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.
all images by a. sue weisler
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 vignelli collection
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.
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
MASSIMO VIGNELLI (7)
Nov 03, 2018
Jan 14, 2015
May 27, 2014
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May 18, 2008PRODUCT LIBRARY
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May 06, 2021
@Dr.Design – so let’s get this straight: you ‘hate” designers of whom you’ve never heard, but are p**sed that they get a design school named after them? So are you admitting your own ignorance or just hate the fact that someone else can design and you can’t? Which is it? FYI, I’ve never heard of ya.
It’s nice to read about someone like Massimo Vignelli who has accomplished so much in his lifetime. I do design work also and I’m inspired by people of Vignelli caliber.
Thanks for the opportunity to pay him homage,
A.Dumas
How could you possibly call yourself a doctor of design and not know who Massimo Vignelli is?
@Dr. Design. Ignorance is bliss, eh?
@ Dr. Design. Have a look at his website. It will help you understand more about his work. A little derivative, perhaps, but a lot better than yours or mine…
Hello Massimo
it is a great projet, I wish I could do something similar in France for Pierre Paulin’s designs
Never heard of him.
The underground map thing looks like the London underground map first designed by Harry Beck in 1933 and the furniture in the gallery…..what can I say…go study elsewhere.
I hate so called star designers – whom I’ve never heard of – and get a design school named after them….what is the world coming to?