Design Matters with Debbie Millman 20th Anniversary celebration with design legends Massimo Vignelli, Michael Bierut, Paula Scher, Chip Kidd and Louise Fili
Aug 18, 2025
Join design legends Massimo Vignelli, known for the iconic 1972 NYC subway map, and Michael Bierut, a celebrated partner at Pentagram, as they celebrate two decades of profound design discussions. They explore the ethical dimensions of design and its societal impact. The conversation dives into the evolution of aesthetics and the subtle dance between meaningful design and superficial trends. They also tackle navigating client expectations while advocating for authentic branding and the transformative power of thoughtful design choices.
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Design As Cultural Defense
- Massimo Vignelli argues designers must fight vulgarity because it degrades culture and mindsets.
- He believes education and spreading quality design raises public taste and reduces visual pollution.
Prefer Subtraction Over Decoration
- Make design forceful: aim for emotional intensity, provocation, and exciting balance between elements.
- Use subtraction to achieve decoration rather than piling on unnecessary elements.
Craft Enables Editorial Judgment
- Michael Bierut learned craft matters, but the bigger role is editing and storytelling in design.
- Simplifying choices (e.g., typeface limits) frees attention for higher-level decisions.
