Massimo Vignelli

Massimo Vignelli stated that "If you can design one thing, you can design everything,”. This can be seen within his work broad range of work he has created which includes package design to furniture design to public signage.

My favourite piece of work of his is the work he did for American Airlines in 1967. Vignelli is featured in the film we watched in the studio, 'Helevtica' , talking about the logo he designed. Within the film he reminds us as an audience how successful the design is as American Airlines is 'the only airline in the last 40 years which has not changed it's identity', he even jokes himself that the logo cannot be improved as 'they have the best already'.

American airlines identity and branding by Vignelli associates, 1967

Vignelli other high profile works have included designing the New York Subway graphics in 1972, which was recently updated in 2008 by Vignelli Associates to make the map more accurate and efficient. I think that the map looks like a piece of art in its own right with the choice of colours and type, however, I believe the stylised and asethically pleasing map isn't as clear and easy to understand as our own London Transport map. Perhaps I am being unfair to Vignellis map as I am far less familiar to New York's tube system it as I am to London's, yet I don't believe it to be as easy to navigate around. Still like it though.

Transportation graphics for New York Subway
by Vignelli Associates, 1972

and this is how it has been updated..

Vignelli Associates used a bold and striking approach when designing a poster for Knoll International the furniture company. I like this piece of work and find the composition and arrangement of letters, which make up the company's name, interesting and effective within the poster.

Vignelli also triumphs in Product Design as well as Graphics. He explains that he likes all of his work to be 'visually powerful, intellectually elegant and above all timeless.' I think that this design ethic can be found in all his work, especially the 'Dual Time Watch' which includes two simple and elegant watch faces to set to different time zones.

Vignelli Associates Dual Time Watch, 2002

Another of Vignelli Associate's wider company profile clients has been the store 'United Colours of Benetton'. Vignelli worked with the clothing store's creator Luciano Benetton to create a corporate identity which would be recognisable to customers and reflect the shops our products and simple non-fussy design. Viginelli's design for 'United Colours of Benetton' is easily recognised and is a good example for simple and successful design.

Vignelli Associates, United Colours of Benetton, 1995