Sagmeister X Walsh: Creativity & Playfulness
In an extraordinary experimental show of design ingenuity, industry titans Stefan Sagmeister and Jessica Walsh engage in a captivating creative duel that transforms logo design into performance art. This unique challenge, led by a charismatic host and evaluated by a panel of four judges, tasks these design pioneers with reimagining Adobe’s iconic “A” logo using a spin wheel mechanism that randomly determines their creative materials.
The brilliance of the challenge lies in its elegant fusion of structure and spontaneity. The spin wheel serves as both an equalizer and a catalyst, giving both designers the same materials while challenging their ability to think and adapt under pressure. This element of chance transforms what could be a routine design exercise into an engaging exploration of creative problem-solving, as each designer must quickly conceive and bring their vision to life with unexpected materials.
What makes this challenge particularly significant is how it breaks down the perceived divide between professional rigor and creative play. By placing two of the industry’s most respected figures in a scenario that demands both technical expertise and improvisational thinking, the challenge demonstrates that serious design can emerge from playful contexts. The judges’ evaluations reinforce this principle, revealing how seemingly whimsical approaches can result in sophisticated design solutions.
For both practitioners and enthusiasts, this challenge offers valuable insights into creativity under constraints. It illustrates how limitations—whether in materials, time, or process—can enhance rather than restrict creative thinking. This friendly competition reveals that design excellence stems not only from technical skill but also from the ability to stay adaptable and imaginative in the face of creative challenges.
This unique collaboration between Sagmeister & Walsh and Adobe transcends typical design competitions, becoming a compelling statement about the nature of creativity itself—how it thrives under pressure, flourishes within constraints, and can transform even the most basic materials into expressions of artistic vision.
Please enjoy the video below to witness this extraordinary creative challenge unfold.
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Episode 1, Sagmeister X Walsh
Episode 2, Sagmeister X Walsh
Episode 3, Sagmeister X Walsh
Episode 4, Sagmeister X Walsh
Episode 5, Sagmeister X Walsh
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Description & Credit
Adobe came to us to make an interpretive graphic of their logo.
We decided to have some fun and turn it into a competition.
We designed, produced, and edited this five part gameshow series.
Judges: Stefan Bucher, Jessica Hische, Joshua Davis, Noreen Morioka Host: Todd Newton
Directors / Participants / Designers: Stefan Sagmeister & Jessica Walsh
Producer / Editor / Director: Santiago Carrasquilla
Set Design / Build: Adi Goodrich
Director of Photography: Zak Mulligan
Design / Animation: Zipeng Zhu
Design: Moritz Resl, Christian Widlic,Wade Jeffree, Lily Tidhar, Jordan Shevell, Dan Hennessy
Sound: Lakyoto Sound Studio
Script: Nia Dacosta
Full credits: behance.net/gallery/Sagmeister-x-Walsh-Adobe-Remix/14350595