Ted Talk: The Power of Time Off

Ted Talk link [Stefan Sagemeister: The Power of Time Off]

Stefan Sagemeister is one of my biggest inspirations. He is not only a designer, but also an artist. He uses the environment to create compelling designs and explores the process, not just the end result. Every seven years he closes his design studio for one year to explore ideas and experiments that cannot be done while working at his studio in NYC. He begins by explaining what made him want to do a sabbatical in the first place. He spoke about how he began to adapt, experience boredom and all of the work he produced began to look the same. At the end of the day, the sabbatical turned fruitful for him because his job became a calling again, something that he felt deeply connected to and enjoyed doing. His business in the long term became more financially successful because his work became more impressive, which secured him more clients and he could ask for higher prices. A lot of projects following the sabbatical were inspired by the year he took off.

As a creative you must take time away from the computer to get inspired by the environment. You need to be able to form your own opinions and perspectives by visiting different cultures or experiencing new things. When you take time off to experience new things your work becomes creatively inspired, therefore more interesting. It’s important as a creative to feed your quest for knowledge and adventure.