Maeda, Holzer, and Sagmeister
I have recently been exposed to the wisdom of several notable figures: John Maeda, Jenny Holzer, and Stefan Sagmeister. They made a considerable impact on me…
Below you can find their excerpted erudition—
Laws of Simplicity…John Maeda
After spending years obsessed with the question of siMplIciTy and coMplexITy at the MIT, Maeda compiled his findings into 10 Laws (that can be further simplified into the 10th and final one).
Law 1: Reduce
Law 2: Organize
Law 3: Time
Law 4: Learn
Law 5: Differences
Law 6: Context
Law 7: Emotion
Law 8: Trust
Law 9: Failure
Law 10: The One
(more John Maeda)
Truisms…Jenny Holzer
Truism Golf Ball (1992)
First Impressions (1989)
Holzer enacts Maeda’s Law 1: Reduce to condense controversial but insightful ideas into compelling one-liners; the impact of the message is further heightened when displayed in public places, in both the familiar and the unfamiliar—billboards, theater signs and t-shirts, or light projections on empty brick walls—for our daily stumbling pleasure.
The intriguing aspect of the truisms is that the statements are not fact — they sit unsteadily on the fence between truth and our perceptions of truth. When we encounter them, they hammer us as propagandistic fact; in that fleeting moment, we could accept it unquestioningly, ponder thoughtfully, or cry foul to no one in particular.
IT IS IN YOUR SELF-INTEREST TO FIND A WAY TO BE VERY TENDER and SLIPPING INTO MADNESS IS GOOD FOR THE SAKE OF COMPARISON
MONEY CREATES TASTE
The newest public place claimed by Holzer (or someone in her name) is on the virtual real estate of Twitter — @jennyholzer. It produces quite a different effect from public light projects of the same text; when my Growl notification pops up on the screen, it inspires and kindles a sentiment unlike anything else. Though it has that “Quote of the Day” flavor, the all-caps yet anonymous nature grants it undeserved authority…
Two truisms that hit me right now:
(more Jenny Holzer)
Things I have learned in my life so far…Stefan Sagmeister
Sagmeister’s wisdom is imparted similarly—public displays of one-liners—yet with a crucial difference: his maxims are deeply personal. The maxims are also segmented with each manifestation being deeply creative in its own right.
Over Time I Get Used To Everything And Start Taking It For Granted
Keeping A Diary Supports Personal Development
Some other things Sagmeister learned in his life (so far)
- Worrying solves nothing.
- Trying to look good limits my life.
- Having guts always works out for me.
- Low expectations are a good strategy.
- Everybody who is honest is interesting.
- Complaining is silly. Either act or forget.
(more Stefan Sagmeister)
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