Massimo Vignelli passed away on May 27th 2014
"We love complexities but we hate complications"Massimo Vignelli
This quote was issue for discussion between Folkwang design students and Massimo and Lella Vignelli, considering the always growing complexity of the design field, as we visited Massimo and Lella in their New York Studio 2008.
The year after the Vignellis visited Folkwang during the 2009 SICHTWERK exhibition where they gave a lecture: "Design is One" which raised comparison between their holistic view on design with the interdisciplinary Folkwang Idea.
Enthusiatically they gave students feedback on their work.
Ever since we had a continuing exchange and during the many times I was invited to the Vignelli New York apartment, often with students, to talk about the future in design education, we were always welcomed warmly and
Massimo was enthusiastic about passing on his knowledge to the young generation of future designers. He always had good advice for them and loved to share his ideas.
Every time we visited, he was working excitedly on a new project and his ideas were as fresh
and strong as his convictions about how good design should be:
"…semantically correct, syntactically consistent and pragmatically understandable."
During my sabbatical Winter 2010/11 Massimo gave me an interview on his view on the american design education, its roots in the "Bauhaus" and on his perspectives for the future of design education.
Massimo was not only one of the great designers of the 20th century, architect, typographer and
teacher, but also a good friend tover the years. His passing is a great loss!
The last time I heard from him, he sent the wonderful book "Designed by Lella”, in which he celebrates the design work of his wife, making sure she receives the recognition as part of their team during her lifetime and hoping to inspire other women in this field. I was saddened to discover why I had not heard back from Massimo after I had written to him thanking for the book.
I will miss Massimo very much and will continue to share what we have learned from him with my students in order to honor him and preserve his memory.
Marion Digel
