Massimo Vignelli 1. WEB SITE RESEARCH Topic research: On the topic of your choice 1. What is the educational benefit of the information related to your topic? People will learn about the design influence that Massimo Vignelli had on the design community and ultimately their lives. 2. What types of viewers will be interested in your topic? Mainly those interested in the field of graphic design. 3. What perceived value will your topic give to your viewers? A better understanding of Vignelli's work and it's place in design history. 4. Primary person(s) of significance in the filed of your topic? Massimo Vignelli, Lella Vignelli, Vignelli Associates 5. Primary person(s) that made your topic information available? Massimo Vignelli, AIGA 6. Important moments or accomplishments in the history of your topic? The implementation of the grid system, the introduction of Helvetica, the introduction to Modernism in design. 7. How did the media of times of your topic treat your topic? They didn't cover it often, but they were all affected by the designs. 8. Current events related to your topic? The American Airlines rebranding 9. Anything else that will help you better understand your topic for this project? e.g. related academic research and or related books and articles on your topic? Similar websites research: Links to the examples of effectively organized and designed similar websites 1. A topical educational website? What makes this website effective? 2. A collection based website? What makes this website effective? 3. An archival or museum website? What makes this website effective? 4. Any website related to you topic? What makes this website effective? Website Definition Your Name: Alex Fusté Name of your website: The Life of Massimo Vignelli Purpose of the website: To recognize Massimo Vignelli's influence on the design community, his achievements in the field of design and illustrate how his work has permeated into everyday lives. Intended audience/viewers: In order of importance who are the primary intended visitors to your website: Be very specific 1. Graphic Designers 2. Design Students 3. Design Historians 4. Design professors 5. Those looking into branding Objectives of your website audience/viewers: What will your website accomplish? Be very specific 1. Learn about the life of Massimo Vignellie 2. Learn about the design contribution of Vignelli 3. Show examples of design 4. Discuss the influence on the field of design 5. Illustrate his design philosophy 3. CONTENT OUTLINE: Home page: Title: Massimo: the Life and Work Subtitle: 5 Primary links -Life -Lella -Influence on Design -Italian Influence -Modernism -Examples of Work -The National Park System -Design Philosophy -Understanding the Grid -Helvetica, Helvetica, Helvetica -Design Contributions -Bringing over the Italian Style Copy/text: (2 – 3 short paragraphs of 3-5 sentences each explaining purpose of site) Massimo Vignelli has influenced the world of design. His work is known throughout the world and has impacted the lives of many, whether they realize it or not. Vignette began his design work in Italy, where he was born. He and his wife Lella moved to New York City and it was there where they began their work. In New York they set forth a design philosophy that would influence the rest of the world. 3-6 Primary slider visuals: (Include a thumbnail and title for each image) % ! % ! % ! 3-6 Secondary thumbnail visuals: (Include a thumbnail and title for each image)! Primary pages (Typical of what is needed to best present the required information)! Primary pages #1! Title: Life! Subtitles for each subtopic on the page: Lella! Links in addition to the sites primary and secondary links! Copy/text for each topic covered on the page (1- 3 short paragraphs max for each subtopic)! Life! Massimo Vignelli, born and raised in Italy, brought to America a new style of minimalist and grid based design. Massimo did so with his wife and business partner Lella Vignelli. He began designing professionally in 1950 and never stopped until he passed on May 23, 2014. He and his team created the faces of some of the most iconic and well known branding and designs in the world. Because their philosophy of design isn’t limited to just graphic design, they focused on many projects in many fields throughout their career. Because, to the Vignelli’s, “If you can’t find it, design it.”! 2 Hagopian, Ruth. A to Z Vignelli “Communication Arts” V. 49 (5) 2007. Pg 166! Featured header or slider visuals (Include a thumbnail and title for each image)! (Lella and Massimo Image)! 1 AIGI. Web. 2014. http://www.aiga.org/medalist-massimoandlellavignelli/! 2 0r more smaller supporting visuals (Include a thumbnail and caption for each image)! Lella! Massimo’s interest in Graphic Design began in Italy pre his marriage to Lella. It was here that he realized that he wanted to continue his life pursuing ‘good design’ in America with Lella. This idea of ‘good design’ was not simply limited to graphic design. Vignelli says in his book “Design is one” that “subjects change, materials change, processes change, but the creative and investigative mind proceeds relentlessly”. This process is applied to all created objects. After he arrived in America he cofounded Unimark and was the design director. This was a great starting point for Vignelli and gave him many opportunities. However, it was when he and Lella founded Vignelli Associates, did they really skyrocket to the design superstars they are today. 1 Abercrombie, Stanley. "Lella and Massimo Vignelli: Design is One." Interior Design 76, no. 1 (01, 2005): 244, http://search.proquest.com/docview/ 234958359?accountid=27975 (accessed September 24, 2014).! 2 Vignelli Center. Web. 2014. http://vignellicenter.rit.edu/about-center/massimo- vignelli/! 3 Vignelli Center. Web. 2014. http://vignellicenter.rit.edu/about-center/massimo- vignelli/! Primary pages #2! Title: Influence on Design! Subtitles for each subtopic on the page: Italian Influence, Massimo v. Everyone! Links in addition to the sites primary and secondary links! Copy/text for each topic covered on the page (1- 3 short paragraphs max for each subtopic)! European Influence! Vignelli brought over a new wave of design to America. One that impacted the entire field of design. Massimo was greatly influenced by Italian and Swiss design and this is why he primarily uses Helvetica in his design. He never did believe in simple decoration, which is so popular with designers (especially young designers). One of the movements they brought over was minimalism and modernism. Massimo v. Everyone! Most other companies hired designers that did not work on a strict design system the way the Vignelli’s did. This is why the companies more often got decorations and less of designs from their designers. Because of this design over decoration philosophy, one of their greatest achievements in design over decoration was the New York City Subway map. This map has a permanent spot in the MoMA collection and less of a map and more a diagram, as Massimo describes it.! Featured header or slider visuals (Include a thumbnail and title for each image)! 2 0r more smaller supporting visuals (Include a thumbnail and caption for each image)! Primary pages #3! Title: His Work! Subtitles for each subtopic on the page: American Airlines! Links in addition to the sites primary and secondary links! Copy/text for each topic covered on the page (1- 3 short paragraphs max for each subtopic)! Featured header or slider visuals (Include a thumbnail and title for each image)! 2 0r more smaller supporting visuals (Include a thumbnail and caption for each image)! Primary pages #4! Title: Design Philosophy! Subtitles for each subtopic on the page: The Grid, Helvetica, Helvetica, Helvetica! Links in addition to the sites primary and secondary links! Copy/text for each topic covered on the page (1- 3 short paragraphs max for each subtopic)! The Grid Massimo worked on a basic grid system throughout his the career. Why the grid? Because Massimo believed that good design is timeless and the grid will inherently never change.! Design is one: Lella and Massimo Vignelli. Film. Directed by Guerra, Roberto, & Kathy, Brew.. 2012. Helvetica, Helvetica, Helvetica In a documentary done about him in 2012, he stated that there “are only a few good typefaces… Garamond, Bodoni, and times roman…Akzidenze Groteque, Helvetica, Univers, Futura”. To Massimo, good design was not necessarily unique design. He limited himself on purpose in order to create a design versus decorate for a company. These fantastic and timeless designs came from that philosophy of working with a curated set or type and a rigid grid system.! Design is one: Lella and Massimo Vignelli. Film. Directed by Guerra, Roberto, & Kathy, Brew.. 2012. Featured header or slider visuals (Include a thumbnail and title for each image)! 2 0r more smaller supporting visuals (Include a thumbnail and caption for each image)! Primary pages #5! Title: Design Contribution! Subtitles for each subtopic on the page:! Links in addition to the sites primary and secondary links! Copy/text for each topic covered on the page (1- 3 short paragraphs max for each subtopic)! Really, Massimo and Lella’s influence on the design community was synonymous with how people interacted with their environments. They worked on some of the worlds most recognizable companies like Ford, JCPenney, IBM, Bloomingdales and American Airlines (1). Like mentioned before, the Vignelli’s are associated with bringing over Helvetica to the United States. This quickly influenced the use of thoughtful typography in the work of designers and has become one of the most recognizable typefaces in the world (2). They also hated the idea of any design that was not functional. If it didn’t have a purpose, it was never created in the first place.