Früher war

Today is better

Stefan Sagmeister has mastered the art of seeing the good in the world. Make room for the beautiful and the good! In your thoughts. On your dining table or desk. And on your bookshelf: this book can be a first step!

This project of impressive data visualizations that become art began with a conversation: one person said "früher war everything is better", the other didn't want to accept that and began to do some research. This "other" is Stefan Sagmeister. And anyone who knows him knows that when he gets to the bottom of something, he digs deep.

Just because bad news attracts more attention in headlines doesn't mean that the world has become - and is becoming - worse. Stefan Sagmeister researches facts about the state of the world in the past and today. He lifts data sets, no, data treasures, from the depths of the archives. Figures that are encouraging. And because he thinks visually, he brings the facts into form. He discovers and buys "old oil slicks", pictures from a supposedly better time. With a scalpel and meticulousness, he uses the works of art from this other time to turn them into "data carriers" of good developments. In an analog way, he implements infographics that prove that the world is better than it sometimes feels. Good news becomes a work of art. Unique pieces that quickly find buyers.

In order to document and preserve the solid basis for committed optimism that the "beautiful numbers" project represents in its entirety, Sagmeister has compiled his thoughts, experiences and of course the work itself into a - how could it be otherwise? - beautiful book and invites his readers to take courage and confidence from it.

Meanwhile, the project itself entails design jobs. He is commissioned to design a clock, espresso cups, a glass series - even an impressive bicycle ramp. Freelance work followed: Stefan Sagmeister dared to launch a limited fashion edition with his data visualizations (unfortunately always sold out immediately!). Thanks to his work, more and more people are beginning to question the pessimistic world-weariness that is all the rage.

Stefan Sagmeister continues. He uncovers the mechanism of the power of catastrophe news. He questions the negative news we often parrot without reflection. Analyzes the power of an optimistic mood. And he invites us to think in a broader time frame and deeper dimensions (instead of being guided by spontaneous negative feelings).