Massimo Vignelli 1931–
“If you can design one thing, you can design everything” –Massimo Vignelli
Massimo Vignelli: interior designer environmental designer package designer graphic designer furniture designer package designer
GENIUS level designer
Massimo was born in Milan in He studied architecture in Milan and Vince. He then moved to NYC to start a company with his wife Lella.
Massimo is known for his genious knowledge of typography. He was recently featured in the independent documentary film “Helvetica.” HELVETICA
examples of helvetica.
Massimo was influenced by the Modernist period. He stuck firmly to their design principles. Modernists stood for simplicity through basic geometric shapes.
Vignelli is a fairly new designer, but he has already made a huge mark on society and has influenced generations of designers. From his generation in the 70’s, to the current designers and for many generations to come.
Massimo Vignelli’s design style is clean
The American Airlines logo is Massimo Vignelli’s most famous logo. It is simple, clean and timeless.
Furniture Design: Lamps
more furniture designs
still more furniture
Massimo dish set
pitchers and flatware
Notice Massimo Vignelli’s w i d e variety of design. He still does more...
he does interior design too! St. Peter’s Church A room with a table. (notice beautiful ceiling)
corporate identity and manuals
and still more....Package Design
He designed Bloomindales and Saks 5th Avenue bags.
NYC street signage
Posters
Knoll Furniture Design poster
and he did maps too.
and watches...
and my favorite...The Stendig Calender Designed in 1966, this popular still sells out every year! (i have one in my apartment and it looks amazing. it’s 4 feet wide by about 3 feet tall)
Design is One by Massimo and Lella Vignelli
All of Massimo’s designs reflect on his philosophies on design and also his life. He believed that a good designer should be able to design anything. He follows through when you see the wide variety of everything he does.
Massimo Vignelli now gives many lectures to school and to groups all over the world about his design.
I like design to be semantically correct, syntactically consistent, and pragmatically understandable. I like to be visually powerful, intellectually elegant, and above all timeless –Massimo Vignelli
Among Vignelli’s many Awards: 1982 New York Art Directors Club Hall of Fame 1983 AIGA Gold Medal 1985 Presidential Design Award (given by Ronald Regan) 1993 New York State Governor's Award of Excellence 2004 Visionary Award from the Museum and Art and Design, NYC Honorary Doctorates: Parsons School of Design RISDE Prat Institute He was also given a fellowship from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago Illinois.
thanks for watching, Katherine Davis
Resources: “Design is One” Lella and Massimo Vignelli. Images Publishing. NYC massimoandlellavignellient.cfm/medalist- massimoandlellavignelli en.wikipedia.oren.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massimo_Vignelli