Lella and Massimo Vignelli: Icons of Modernist Design
Image from AIGA.
Page Overview
Who is Lella Vignelli?
Lella Vignelli was born Udine, Italy in 1931. She earned a degree from the School of Architecture, University of Venice. In 1958, she received a tuition fellowship at the School of Architecture, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Afterwards, she joined Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill in Chicago as part of the interiors department. She returned to Italy and in 1962, became a registered architect in Milan.She met Massimo at an architect's convention and married him in 1957. Although she was not a co-founder of Unimark International, she did join the company in 1965 as head of the interiors department. With Massimo, she later formed Vignelli Associates in 1971 and Vignelli Designs in 1978. She is the currently the CEO of Vignelli Associates and President of Vignelli Designs.
Massimo and Lella Vignelli are known for working as a team with Massimo focusing on 2D and Lella designing the 3D -- He's the visionary: "I talk of feelings, possibilities, what a design could be." She's the realist: "I think of feasibility, planning, what a design can be."
Awards:
- 2005, Architecture Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, NY.
- 2004, the Visionary Award from the Museum of Art and Design, New York.
- 2003, the National Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Museum of Design at Cooper-Hewitt, New York.
- 1995, Brooklyn Museum Design Award for Lifetime Achievement.
- 1992, Interior Product Designers Fellowship of Excellence.
- 1991, National Arts Club Gold Medal for Design.
- 1988, Interior Design Hall of Fame.
- 1983, AlGA Gold Medal.
- 1973, American Institute of Architects (AlA) Industrial Arts Medal.
Image from Publicolor.
Lella Vignelli
If you do it right, it will last forever. It's as simple as that.
Learn about Massimo Vignelli
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Massimo Vignelli
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Massimo Vignelli is one half of the Modernist Design power-couple. Lella Vignelli and Massimo Vignelli may be the ultimate designers of all time. They have designed virtually everything from maps and logos to furniture and tableware. Their artistic s...
Books on the Vignellis
Vignelli From A to Z
Beginning with the intriguing 'A for Ambiguity', it continues through the alphabet, describing their approach to subjects as diverse as book design, discipline, furniture, garment design, interior design and lighting, newspapers, packaging and typography.
Amazon Price: $31.50 (as of 12/19/2009) 
Lella and Massimo Vignelli (International Graphic Design)
Vignelli is a powerful name in graphic design. Lella and Massimo Vignelli prove that design should be semantically correct, syntactically correct, and pragmatically understandable, but also visually powerful, intellectually elegant and timeless.
Amazon Price: $18.15 (as of 12/19/2009)
Hear the Vignellis Talk About Design
Are you a Modernist?
Vignelli Designs
Wrist Watches
Find the white Pierre Junod watch and the black Pierre Junod watch, both designed by Lella and Massimo Vignelli.
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Classic Chairs
The Vignelli Knoll Handkerchief Stacking Chair is a design classic. Their Heller Chair is also extremely elegant as well as functional. The gray Vignelli Cube is the newest classic. These chairs are must-haves for an Modern interior.
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byElegant Tables
The Knoll Paperclip Table is an oft cited Vignelli classic. Another popular table is the Acerbis Cresco Table, though Vignelli Designs has created several more notable tables.
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byModern Tableware
Vignelli Designs created a very popular line of dinnerware with Heller. The bold colors and shapes of the platters, bowls, and mugs make them timeless representations of Modernism.
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byFind More Vignelli Designs Products
- Buy the Stendig Calendar from Unica Home
- The Stendig calendar, designed in 1966, is instantly recognizable.
- Pierre Junod Watches from Quest O Design
- Beautiful watch designs with both single and dual times.
- Full List of Vignelli Products from Unica Home
- Cabinets, calendars, chairs, tables, pens, books, cufflinks, and more.
- Dinnerware from Design Within Reach
- Classic Heller dinnerware set.
- Tables and Chairs from Heller
- Find the Handkerchief Stacking Chair and Paperclip Table.
- Vignelli Collection from Adirondack Furniture
- Get the full Vignelli collection with the cube, low table, and bench.
Vignelli Designs
If you can't find it, design it.
Links about Lella Vignelli
- Official Homepage of Vignelli Associates
- I like design to be semantically correct, syntactically consistent, and pragmatically understandable.
- Article on the Vignellis by New York Home Design
- In an instant, their pared-down designs-for the subway, Bloomingdale's, American Airlines-conjure a particular moment in the city's history. Massimo and Lella Vignelli have a saying: "If you can't find it, design it." And it's not just a saying.
- Massimo and Lella Vignelli Win AIGA Medal
- The Vignellis, Massimo and Lella, stand at the peak of their profession. During the past 20 years, their design output has been prodigious in quantity, far-ranging in media and scope and consistent in excellence.
Are you in awe of Lella Vignelli?
Leave your thoughts here. We would love to hear which of their designs you like best, what you own, and what you wish you did. Share your opinions on Modernism, graphic design, and product design.
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- BettyBroke BettyBroke Sep 5, 2009 @ 11:10 pm
- Great lens, their designer items are sophisticated and elegant. 5 stars!
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