Cutting Through The Noise

For Paul Sahre, graphic design was a calling, not a choice. Here he shares his views on putting yourself into your work, the renaissance of book cover design, and pointless projects worth doing anyway…

- Ruth Hamilton

Design is not a job for Paul Sahre; it’s an identity. He’s gained respect in the industry for forging a creative path driven largely by passion, rather than power or finances, and is best known for his innovative and unexpected book covers, his graphic work for the New York Times, and that time he created – and blew up – a life-sized cardboard monster truck hearse (more on that later).

Today, Sahre’s a successful sole practitioner, but the journey hasn’t always been smooth. Here, he speaks about the highs and lows of working alone, the struggle between money and ethics, and why the digital shift has been a blessing in disguise for book cover design.

Why did you get into graphic design in the first place?

I started my career thinking I was going to change the world. It’s not turned out that way. There are many other things you can do with your life if that’s your main motivation. So… why be a graphic designer? It gives me a sense of purpose and meaning. It’s a calling – it’s what you do and who you are. And it’s survival. It’s like breathing. It keeps you alive. There are times when we have control over it and are aware of our breathing, and there are times where it’s a reflex. Is it even a choice?

You’ve written a memoir of your experiences in the design world: Two-Dimensional Man. What prompted you to do this?