Stefan Sagmeister: The power of time off

The speaker discusses the concept of taking a sabbatical every seven years to pursue personal projects and experiments. He shares his experiences in Bali, the inspiration he found there, and the projects that emerged from his sabbaticals. The talk highlights the benefits of sabbaticals, such as increased creativity and innovation, and provides examples of successful sabbaticals by others. The speaker also discusses the planning and outcomes of his sabbaticals, emphasizing the importance of having a plan. He concludes with insights gained from his projects and future plans.

What is the primary reason the speaker takes a sabbatical every seven years?

• To write a book

• To pursue personal experiments

• To travel the world

• To start a new business

During his sabbatical in Bali, what was one of the first creative projects the speaker undertook?

• Building a new studio

• Designing a new logo

• Creating portraits of local dogs

• Writing a novel

What challenge did the speaker face with the furniture in Bali?

• Creating furniture from local materials

• Finding affordable pieces he liked

• Transporting furniture from New York

• Designing furniture for small spaces

What lesson did the speaker learn from his first sabbatical?

• The need to travel to new places

• The importance of having a detailed plan

• The value of working without a schedule

• The benefit of collaborating with others

Which company is known for allowing its engineers to spend 15% of their time on personal projects?

• Microsoft

• Apple

• 3M

• Google

What was the speaker's initial mistake during his first sabbatical?

• Not having a structured plan

• Traveling to too many places

• Focusing only on relaxation

• Taking on too much work

What was the unique approach taken in the Casa da Musica project?

• Incorporating local music elements

• Focusing on minimalist design

• Creating a dynamic logo system

• Using traditional Portuguese designs

How did the speaker's view on design change after his sabbatical?

• He started using design for deeper purposes

• He shifted to digital design exclusively

• He focused more on commercial success

• He decided to retire from design

What was the message spelled out with coins in the Amsterdam project?

• Design is life

• Obsessions make my life worse and my work better

• Art is eternal

• Creativity is key

What was the speaker's reaction to the police intervention in the Amsterdam project?

• He was relieved

• He was indifferent

• He found it amusing

• He was frustrated