Massimo vignelli, jJamie Lawrence

assimo Vignelli DISCIPLINES OF DESIGN

Massimo Vignelli 1931-2014

“ I like design to be semantically correct, syntactically consistent, & pragmatically understandable �

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“It’s substantially important to spend quality time searching for the accurate and essential meanings” For Massimo Vignelli semantics

diagnostic ability to funnel the

was the exploration for meaning

research and present a conscious

within whatever he designed. In

solution to the problem.

order to find the most appropriate

The semantics provide a platform

direction for the development

for correct inception of projects,

of the design, Massimo believed

regardless of their context.

in researching the history of the

Becoming a crucial component of

subject. As subjects vary, the

the natural process of designing,

search has potential to stem in

semantics indicate the most

many different directions. This

appropriate form for the subject

initial research can develop

we can transform. An important

into further research entailing

aspect in the semantic search is

information about the company,

effortlessly infusing the design

product, marketing position,

with the required cognitive

competition, destination, or the

inputs in the most natural way

actual meaning of the subject and

possible. Without semantics, the

its semantic roots.

design becomes meaningless.

In order to achieve satisfactory

Semantics, in design, means to

design, the designer must

understand all aspects of the

understand the parameters in

subject in order to relate the

which they must operate. It’s

subject to the sender, and receiver

substantially important to spend

in such a way that it makes sense

quality time searching for the

to both. Most simply it means

accurate and essential meanings,

to design something that has

investigate their complexities,

meaning, that’s not arbitrary, and

learn their ambiguities, and

carries meaning or has a precise

understand the context of use.

purpose infused into every detail.

Knoll design thumbnails, Massimo Vignelli

Massimo believed understanding semantics is essential especially when following your intuition and

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“In graphic design, the components consist of structure, the grid,

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Design is one, Massimo Vignelli

Vignelli from A-Z, Massimo Vignelli

typefaces, text, and headlines�

The essence of syntax is described

by Vignelli as the discipline that controls the proper use of grammar in the construction of phrases and the articulation of language. The syntax of design

type size relationships, and the relationships between pictures on various pages throughout the project.

is conveyed through many components in the nature of the project. In graphic design, the components consist of structure, the grid, typefaces, text, and headlines. Massimo explains consistency in design is supplied by the appropriated relationship between the different syntactical elements of the project.

These elements consist of how type relates to grids and images,

correct syntactic elements in design, as there are incorrect ones that should be avoided. In graphic design consistent syntactical elements in design are of paramount importance. Grids are one of the several tools helping designers to achieve syntactical consistency.

Vignelli from A-Z, Massimo Vignelli

There are various ways to achieve

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“If whatever we did wasn’t understood, it failed to communicate and therefore became

NYC Subway Signage, Massimo Vignelli

a wasted effort”

Massimo believed, if whatever

understand the starting point and

we created wasn’t understood,

all assumptions of any project to

it failed to communicate and

comprehend the final result and

therefore became a wasted

measure it’s effiency.

think are semantically correct

The result of confusing,

and syntactically consistant, the

complicated designs reveal the

pragmatics are equally important

equally confused and complicated

because if no one understands

minds of the audience.

the result or the meaning of

As designers we prefer designs to

all the effort, the entire work

contain elements of intellectual

becomes useless. Ocassionally

elegance and a sense of

designs require explination,

forcefullness. Straying away from

but become stronger when

temporary fads in design prooves

explinations aren’t necessary.

for a timeless design. Most

Designs should be capable of

critical for designers is creating

standing by themselves and

things that have the capability of

provide a sense of clarity.

lasting for a long time.

Otherwise something important has been missed. It’s important to

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NYC Subway Map, Massimo Vignelli

effort. As we design things we

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Bibliography Larrabee, Eric, and Massimo Vignelli. Knoll design. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1990.

Vignelli Associates. Accessed April 20, 2017. http://vignelli.com/home.html.

Vignelli, Massimo, and Lella Vignelli. Design: Vignelli. New York: Rizzoli, 1981.

Vignelli, Massimo. The Vignelli canon. Zürich: Lars Müller Publishers, 2015.

Designed & written by Jamie Lawrence Composed in Helvetica and ITC Century Std Printed from Toshiba 3055c onto #80 Hammermill Copyright © 2017 Jamie Lawrence Portland, Maine, Maine College of Art