When your average developer hears about a design conference or lecture they often don’t give it a thought. Its like a developer sitting in a meeting while designers argue over fonts. Early in my career I often didn’t pay designers any mind, but as I matured I realized that there was a lot to learn from them and that design isn’t all about fonts and colors. Sagmeister is a designer that when he gives a lecture every developer should shut their laptops and pay attention.

Stefan is in a unique position of being able to take basic principles he has learned from life and turn them in to design (and make a living at it). These principles aren’t design principles, they’re life principles. A simple set of ideas that if you can live by them could actually improve your life.

Here is the list (Things I have learned in my life so far) that he went over in his presentation lastnight at AIGA DesignMatters in SF:

Everything I do always comes back to me.
Complaining is silly. Either act or forget it.
Thinking life will be better in the future is stupid. I have to live now.
Being not truthful works against me.
Organizing a charity group is suprisingly easy.
Drugs feel great in the beginning and become a drag later on .
Over time I get used to everything and start taking it for granted.
Money does not make me happy.
Traveling alone is helpful for a new perspective on life.
Assuming is stifling.
Keeping a diary supports my personal development.
Trying to look good limits my life.
Worrying solves nothing.
Material luxuries are best enjoyed in small doses.
Having guts always works out for me.

In the end it was a really enjoyable (and funny) lecture. And as for the developers out there. Listen to the designers and creative directors you work with. They may have more to offer than you think.

Contribute things you have learned in your life to the website

Information on upcoming AIGA events (Devs sign-up you won’t regret it)
Sagmeisters website
Watch an interview of Stefan Sagmeister
Watch a talk given by Stefan Sagmeister

Thanks to my girl Kelly for turning me on to this guy and to Lee a creative director I used to work with who always encouraged me to attend events like these.