everyday observations of regular people

“Massimo doesn’t like these colors.”

everyone groans about their parents being on facebook but here’s a feel good story for ya’ll.

i posted this interview with massimo vignelli in regards to american airlines ditching his classic identity design while they flounder in bankruptcy. it sparked lots of conversation with my friend jon and, then, my dad chimed-in…

I used Massimo to create a new catalog design for me at Barnes & Noble. He was a real talented SOB but what a character. He spoke about himself in the 3rd person, not in the first person. “Massimo doesn’t like these colors” he would say, not I don’t like these colors.

…

In the lobby of his then studio/office we got off the elevator and entered a foyer with no reception desk, just a giant white and green lily in a crystal vase on a 6 ft pedestal showered by the afternoon light. All the walls in the foyer were bare. No door knobs anywhere on wall. Then a female voice came across the PA system, it seemed to come from many directions so we didn’t know which way to turn to answer, we simply shouted out our names. Then we heard a swoosh and turned around to be greeted by Massimo, wearing a Dark gray Nehru collared suit (he was designing for Barneys New York at the time , early 90’s) with his signature design, one deep red button at the top near his adam’s apple.

…

He was a fascinating artist. As we described the catalog idea he took out watercolor chalk an sketched a few ideas on paper for us, very abstractly.