This is a story about an obsession.
Sometimes, I see work and I just have to know the story behind it. Who made it? When? Why?
I started asking around, but nobody seemed to be able to tell me any details. Albeit, I may have been asking in a complicated way.
After studying it for a bit, I come across a monumental clue. The Architectural League of New York. After googling it, and adding Vignelli to the ed of my query, I discovered that Massimo and Leila received the President's medal from The Architectural League of New York in 2011. I read about them...
Oh yeah! In one of the essays in &9 Short Essays on Design, Michael Bierut (Pentagram partner) talks about designing posters for The Architectural League of New York. So he must've done this, too! And, for good reason. Bierut worked for Vignelli Associates from 1980 to 1990, where I would imagine he learned all of Massimo's design quirks.
But, after congratulating myself on some great detective work, it sunk in. This poster's not for sale.
Luckily, that's not where the story ends.
I decided I'd make my own. It would be fun and a great learning experience. So, I started counting lines and making measurements. Building grids, both baseline and modular.
The grid being done, I figured that the hard part was done. Just add type. But, there was just one tiny little (major problem. Let me show you.
That being done, it was time for one of the funnest parts of this whole project.
And then, it all came together.
Now, all that's left is to print it out and frame it. My very own, albeit cheap, copy.
Thanks for viewing!
