Vignelli Center for Design Studies

04/28/2026

It’s the early 1970s. You need calendars for your office. Take a look at these Knoll Vignelli Accessories. You have two sizes of desk pads with quarterly calendars, a notepad, and a file system for keeping important names, numbers and addresses.

You could also choose the minimalist wall Knoll calendar with large tight numerals for the day with the day of week and month and year across the bottom. Fun fact: this Knoll calendar was the precursor to Vignelli’s 365 perpetual calendar which was even more minimal with just the large number for the date and nothing else.

Scroll through to see the original pricelist page for Vignelli Accessories as well as some images from a Knoll brochure for Stephens Landscape Systems featuring the calendars in the photo shoot.

Here in the archives, we have the 12” desk pad and its original packaging and 1971, 1972 and 1973 versions of the Knoll wall calendar.

04/13/2026

It’s !

On Mondays we share an excerpt from a graphic standards manual in the archives.

Today’s manual is for Central Bank founded in Jefferson City, Missouri, USA. The correspondence in this manual is dated 1983, implying this is when the manual was created.

According to the Central Bank’s website:

“Dogwood trees symbolize durability and the ability to withstand various challenges in life and thrives under the cover of larger and taller trees, just like our company and the large national banks. In 1987, Central Bank adopted the flower of this tree as a symbol to represent our brand. Being strongly rooted, withstanding the test of time, and blooming endless possibilities.”

From the manual:
“Green, the color of both money and leaves, is the natural choice to reinforce the image of a bank whose symbol is a dogwood blossom.”

“Future Bold is the typeface that has been chosen for all logotypes. The typeface is strong yet friendly, and its roundness compliments the flower symbol.”

This logo and logotype (and the color green) are still in use today!

Scroll through to see the manual, mockups for signage pasted to actual photo prints, a pasteup for the bank directory, and even a hat.

04/02/2026

While working at Unimark International in the late 1960s, Lella and Massimo Vignelli designed a number of product packaging for Colton, a subsidiary of Gillette. Take a look at Nuts & Bolts, a line of toiletries aimed at a masculine audience. With a nod to pop art, large scale bright orange plastic nuts and bolts are part packaging and part object.

In the archives, the Vignellis saved an example of a combo pack in its original box which includes after shave lotion, deodorant, and after shave conditioner. This set also has an accordion folded brochure describing all the products.

Scroll through to read the brochure for yourself and its creatively descriptive language!

“A bold new twist in men’s products to prepare you for anything. (After all you never know what you might fall into.)

Nuts & Bolts cologne
A vigorous cologne in a man-sized orange bolt. Twist off the cap and turn on the power. A long-lasting, woodsy fragrance that’s a real confidence builder.

Nuts & Bolts after shave lotion
This bolt makes your shave a l***y one. The same zesty fragrance as the cologne invigorates your skin when it needs bracing up. Make it big with a splash of boldness from this brisk new aftershave. 4-ounces.

Nuts & Bolts after shave conditioner
If your skin reacts to the sting of alcohol after you shave, try working with this bolt. No alcohol bite. A greaseless, non-sticky cream that helps relieve dry and chapped skin conditions. 4-ounces.

Nuts & Bolts deodorant stick
A manly deodorant stick with strong arm ingredients to fight off strong arm bacteria. A bolt that really works as a deodorant. Non-alcoholic, it doesn’t sting or bite. Potent to help give long lasting protection. 3.4-ounces.

Nuts & bolts soap set
Two nut-shaped soaps, each with the same rousing scent. Soap up with either bar. Each contains special ingredients to help prevent bacteria odor.”


From our Unimark International records, we have tons of vintage imagery of the product and a two-sided ad / order form which describes the then new line:

“A New Twist in Men’s grooming
It’s about time someone came up with a line of grooming products for the rugged individualist.

Now there’s “NUTS AND BOLTS”. Five new super-virile products which come in man-sized orange nuts and bolts containers. There’s just about every grooming aid a man needs to make him feel like a man. A vigorous Cologne…a zesty After Shave…a biteless After Shave Conditioner…a strong-arm Deodorant Stick…and a couple of rousing nut shaped soaps that help prevent bacteria odor.”

03/30/2026

It’s !

On Mondays we share an excerpt from a graphic standards manual in the archives.

It’s also !

So we're sharing the pencil sketches by Massimo Vignelli for the graphics standards manual Italian appliance maker Zanussi from the 1970s.

While we do not have the actual manual in the archives, we do have sketches, pasteups, presentation boards and other documentation for the manual and graphic identity. We also have several examples of stationery, business cards, and brochures for Zanussi.

03/27/2026

Happy birthday to Mies van der Rohe!

In 1967, Robert Cadwallader, the newly hired marketing manager, invited Massimo Vignelli to create a new corporate identity for Knoll. Using a clearly defined grid system and Helvetica as the logo typeface, he gave Knoll a new recognizable graphic identity. To celebrate Mies van der Rohe’s birthday, here are some Knoll artifacts designed by Massimo featuring Mies van der Rohe’s designs.

Enjoy this recently uncovered sketch by Massimo Vignelli for Knoll catalog sheets for Mies van der Rohe’s furniture. Scroll through to see the before- and after-Vignelli designs of the actual catalog pages. Pre-Vignelli the pages were blank on the reverse side, after-Vignelli they feature a full bleed image often depicting the manufacturing process.

“While in Chicago we met Mies van der Rohe, my greatest mentor and my favorite architect.” Massimo Vignelli

Lella Vignelli was interviewed for the Decorative Arts Fall-Winter 2000-2001 issue and mentioned meeting Mies van der Rohe while living in Chicago in the 1960s:

“LV: In Chicago we went to see Dick Barringer (a good architect and a friend of my brother), who felt we were not having a “real American” experience living in Newburyport. He was teaching at IIT [Illinois Institute of Technology] and offered me some work and got Massimo a Moholy-Nagy grant at IIT and a design job.
It was very lively there. Mies van der Rohe was there. We had dinner with him three times. …

I also remember remarking that it was difficult to operate the windows in the building he had designed at 599 Lakeshore Drive. “Too bad,” he said. “I’m not trying to solve all the problems.”

PK: But you felt confident enough to ask?

LV: Yes. He was very nice.”

03/25/2026

In the 1990s, Lella Vignelli designed a series of dolls called “Today’s Girl, Tomorrow’s Woman.” Ultimately, these dolls were never produced.

The archives includes: correspondence, Lella’s sketches, doll-sized clothing patterns, photographs of the prototypes and packaging, conceptual graphics, and most of the actual doll prototypes and packaging.

In 1995, Lella Vignelli wrote to Pleasant Rowland of American Girl Doll about the project:

“In collaboration with Mr. Harry Kislevitz, inventor of Colorforms and founder of the company that bears the same name, we have created a series of dolls that are different in concept and form from any doll on the market. The idea stemmed from the observation that there is a need for an alternative teenage figure doll to Barbie. A doll that is more true to life in its physical attributes, clothing, and overall appearance.
…
Our target is to appeal to an audience that is looking for something more genuine, more constructive, an audience that is concerned with the significance of a toy in a girl’s life. However, the purpose is not merely to be serious and politically correct. The dolls are primarily a toy for the child to enjoy: they are beautifully formed, the accessories are colorful, varied and well made, and will be fun to play with.”

Sample dolls were made for these professions:
Chef
Country Singer
President
Judge
Artist
Airline Pilot
Astronaut
Photographer
Jockey
Racer
Doctor

03/24/2026

Yesterday we shared some excerpts from the graphic standards manual for the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Vignelli Associates designed a comprehensive program for all graphics and signage, which included one “monumental” sign!

At almost 25 feet wide and 22 feet and 2 inches tall, this huge typographic sculpture was no small task to construct. Architect Jose Rafael Moneo designed the Aubrey Jones Beck building expansion at the museum, which opened in 2000, and suggested this massive sign to Vignelli.

Scroll through the images to see Massimo Vignelli’s early sketches, various views of the actual sign, measured drawings, and even some images of the making of these huge letter forms!

03/23/2026

It’s Manuals Monday!

Manuals Monday is back! On Mondays we feature an excerpt from a graphics standards manual from the archives.

Today’s manual is for the Museum of Fine Art, Houston (MFAH) from 1999.

Vignelli Associates created a new graphic program and signage for the MFAH including the “monumental sign.” Stay tuned for more about the design of this enormous typographic sculpture.

From vignelli.com, the former Vignelli Associates website: “This program encompassed every printed piece, from logo to stationery, invitations to publications, and all signage, from building identification to Donors’ Wall garage to restaurant. The Building sign, of monumental scale, is a special design requested by the architect.”

Massimo & Lella Vignelli (Principals in Charge), Peter Vetter, Mischa Leiner, Yoshiki Waterhouse, Christian Altmann, and Yuji Yamazaki were the design team from Vignelli Associates.

Back in 2018, we shared some an earlier draft for the MFAH graphic standards manual:
https://vignellicenter.tumblr.com/post/179322534672/vignelli-manualsmonday-mfah

As always, if you know more about this project or worked on this project, we would love to hear from you!

11/18/2025

We are hiring an Assistant Archivist!

The Vignelli Center for Design Studies Assistant Archivist assists with the management of the design archives of renowned designers Lella and Massimo Vignelli. The Assistant Archivist processes archival collections, digitizes artifacts, and helps researchers access the collections. This position is funded for 5 years with the possibility of continued funding.

Required Qualifications
Education/Experience
• Master’s degree in library science or other advanced degree with a concentration or experience in Archives management.
• At least two years’ professional Archives experience.

For complete job description, qualifications, and salary range: https://sjobs.brassring.com/TGnewUI/Search/home/HomeWithPreLoad?partnerid=25483&siteid=5289&PageType=JobDetails&jobid=1581727

04/15/2025

02/14/2025

Important Notice
The Vignelli Center for Design Studies will be temporarily closed for infrastructure improvements beginning 17 February 2025.

Access to the galleries and physical archives is closed and scheduled open houses are cancelled for the duration of the project, but the Vignelli Design Conversations lectures remain as scheduled.

Anticipated completion of the project is May 2025.

But never fear! We'll still share archives content and updates even if our spaces are closed. Stay tuned!