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Afterword
- RIT Press
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149 Afterword On May 27, 2014, after difficult final months of frustrating medical issues, Massimo Vignelli passed away quietly at home. Lella Vignelli remains in the Vignelli home with the help of caretakers and family. A notable passing inevitably leads to thoughts of legacy and influence. Massimo Vignelli’s most meaningful legacy was relationships. He was a designer—a builder—not simply of materials, but of ideas and of people. Massimo focused, listened, shared, and cared. His steadfast commitment to an ideal world that could never be realized, to the purpose of bettering society, and to a process of thinking and doing toward these ends lasted through his lifetime. His influence is lasting because he inspired countless others to continue in this positive direction. Having Vignelli credentials opened doors for dozens of designers; railing against Vignelli vision bolstered recognition for others. Only a great visionary could have it both ways. Even those who criticized his design approach readily admitted appreciation of him; Massimo was personally likeable even when his tongue was sharp. His impassioned embrace of an engaged life came with a ready smile, quick wit, raised eyebrows and a nimble mind. Criticism by Massimo had poetic sting. Neither friendship nor professional respect were insulators when his observations could be forcefully delivered in two languages—his eloquence in English matched his fluidity in Italian. His critical appraisal always focused on ideas or execution that failed his test of integrity and meaning. At the same time, earning his praise felt as though you’d personally contributed to his constant battle against mediocrity, obsolescence, and the consequent deterioration of society itself. Personally, I will miss his “Massimoisms” that played so fluently with language. Some of them were repeated for decades, others were off-the-cuff quips, but all of them were meaningful. His expressiveness put people at ease, made them think, and offered easy entrance to difficult topics. 150 Upon learning that I was raised on an Iowa Holstein farm, his response was instantaneous. “Iowa is one large grid, and with black and white cows too, you had to become a graphic designer,” he told me. In 1978, the Icograda Congress met in Evanston, Illinois. Massimo was one of the speakers and he criticized the organization of a conference presentation that was too onesided , saying, “I want to hear both bells, and then decide which has the most silvery sound.” A 2013 video created for Mohawk paper, Massimo Vignelli Makes Books, showed him explaining the grid. “The grid is an integral part of book design. It’s not something that you see. It’s just like underwear: you wear it, but it’s not to be exposed. The grid is the underwear of the book.” These observations continued even in the last weeks of his life. When shown an x-ray of a his spine, eroding from a recurrent infection, he soberly pondered the visual evidence. “It looks like a rat chewed a hole in my spine,” he said. He drew a quick sketch of the offending beast with a shaky hand. Integrity was a favorite word for both Massimo and Lella Vignelli. It defined them. Few people sustained and blended work and life with such assurance and success. Massimo found joy in the good things of life, in the beauty of smooth functionality, in honesty of materials and careful craftsmanship. During his last hospital stay, he wanted his ginger ale iced in a bucket like champagne and though it was more difficult for him to maneuver, he insisted that Luca straighten his bedside table to a proper 90-degree angle before he would eat. Massimo was orderly to the end. Until recently Massimo proclaimed that he would like to live forever, to keep working forever. When facing the end, his biggest concern was protecting and providing for Lella. He did not fear death itself, but he worried that in passing he would become that most reviled entity—a transient being. Massimo detested things that were ephemeral. That focus led him to a lifetime of teaching, sharing, and explaining ideas and methods with consistency, clarity, and patience to clients and designers alike. Through the relationships he fostered, he will do as he wanted—he will live forever. Near the end, son Luca did his best to make his father happy, which usually meant keeping him focused on the world of design. Luca issued a request for letters from those who felt Massimo’s influence. Through social media, his request quickly went viral...