Lella and Massimo Vignelli: Two Lives One Vision

Lella and Massimo Vignelli: Two Lives, One Vision is a portrait of two important twentieth-century designers whose careers have intertwined since the 1950s. The Vignellis promote a modernist philosophy of designing for a better society: resourceful use of space and materials, clear communication, lasting quality, and logical functionality. Through a mix of archival research and personal interviews with Lella, Massimo, and their many colleagues and clients, Jan Conradi documents the Vignellis’ nuanced approach to cleaning up an often chaotic and messy society by adhering to a minimalist and structured design method. The Vignellis’ lifetime commitment to a world of design ismarked by vibrant client relationships and unwavering attention to detail. With wit, grace, focus, and finesse, the Vignellis’ sustained pattern of working and living has influenced, and continues to inspire, generations of designers worldwide.

JAN CONRADI is a Professor of Graphic Design at Rowan University in New Jersey, where she teaches typography and design history.