the vignelli center for design studies at rochester institute of technology
all photos by a. sue weisler


the iconic work of international designers massimo and lella vignelli is now permanently
archived at the vignelli center for design studies, which opened earlier this month on
the campus of rochester institute of technology (RIT), USA.

the vignelli's created the new york city subway signage, the handkerchief chair, the paper
clip table, the stendig calendar, the interior of st. peter’s lutheran church in new york city,
the corporate identity programs for xerox, american airlines, packaging programs for
bloomingdales and saks fifth avenue, to name just a few.

an archive of the vignellis design work over their 40-year career, along with an extensive
collection of original source materials, will serve as an international resource and be accessible
for study. in addition to the archive storage areas, the nearly 19,000 square foot vignelli center
also houses offices and the benetton gallery, which will feature, 'design is one,' an exhibit
comprised of select pieces from the vignelli collection.

'it is our dream that the center will foster studies related to modernist masters, exhibitions
on their work and other related subjects. the center elevates rit and positions the university
on the international forefront of design studies. lella and i are delighted to see our dream take
shape.' - massimo vignelli, co-founder of vignelli associates

the center will serve as a hub for design education, scholarship and research, expanding the scope
of the programs offered through rit’s school of design. the school offers degree programs in graphic
design, industrial design, interior design, new media design and imaging and computer graphics design.
the university also has international exchange programs with anhalt university of applied sciences
in dessau, germany, and in copenhagen, denmark.

the vignelli collection complements RIT’s 35 collections of modernist american graphic design
pioneers such as lester beall, will burtin, cipe pineles, william golden and alvin lustig, among others.
the university began acquiring these collections in the mid 1980s.



the design center



the vignelli collection



massimo and lella vignelli cutting the ribbon officially opening the building



massimo vignelli talks to guests at the opening ceremony standing beside his new york city subway signage