Massimo Vignelli's bold, clean aesthetic is instantly recognizable, even to those of us for whom the design world is a relatively unfamiliar place. No space is wasted, no color random, no image unnecessary. In his mind, there are four useful typefaces, and the rest can be trashed. He is clear, imaginative and ruthless. This is the stuff brilliant designers are made of.
His vision of utilitarian design is equally applicable in the digital age, where web page space is at a premium and content delivery is the name of the game. Paramount if his design philosophy he says, "It's so simple. I hate layout where you can see the layout and not the content." This is a crucial element in designing a good website. Visitors should know immediately what they're looking at, be it a product, a service, information, etc. Perhaps this explains why he was remarkable philosophical when a student asked how he felt when people don't realize it's design. People don't realize music is music sometimes, he said, but they always hear it.
When questioned about the difference between art and design, his response was a matter of function. If it has a purpose, it's design. If it doesn't, it's art. It's easy for designers to get wrapped up in their own vision as artists that they forget how something has to function in a person's life. No matter how beautiful it is, if something doesn't serve it's intended purpose, you've failed as a designer.
His work is a great model for those starting out as designers. And that man loves his wife, Lella, like it is his job, which doesn't hurt either.
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I definitely agree with you. He stands out because he has his own voice. His designs are meant to be both powerful but simple and I think that is why so many people love his work. Without any wasted space or random designs, he places emphasis on what he wants the audience to see and feel.
ReplyDeleteI loved that exchange on music/design and not recognizing the effort. Design should appear simple and effortless. The fulfillment for a designer is putting in the blood, sweat and tears to produce something that solves a problem in the simplest and most aesthetically awesome way.
ReplyDeleteI agree that a great artist can make something so elegant look so easy...just as a great singer will not show the hours of work that went into giving a performance. I appreciate Vignelli's simple, refined taste and single-minded conviction about his work.
ReplyDeleteThe difference Vignelli pointed out between art and design (function) is a huge piece of the puzzle that is often missing. This was a good point to bring into the thought of Web design.
ReplyDeleteAnd, yay for true partnership. It was so refreshing to see him give Lella praise where deserved (especially since design was often a boy's club in the earlier years of their work).