Send Massimo Vignelli A Card.... Now!

Legendary designer Massimo Vignelli, the guy who gave us the amazing 1972 subway map and the current Weekender map, is gravely ill. It is reported that he is spending his last days at home and on Friday it was reported that his son Luca has called for the general public to send him letters. 

The call came out through the Creative Review, Pentagram partner Michael Beirut has this on behalf of the Vignelli's son:

Luca said that Massimo would be thrilled to get notes of good wishes from people whom he's touched or influenced - whether personally or remotely - over the years. Luca has visions of huge mail bags full of letters. I know that one of Massimo's biggest fantasies has been to attend his own funeral. This will be the next best thing. Pass the word.

So even though we're a few days late (shocker) we're passing on the word. According to Gizmodo the "outpouring has been swift." And Beirut went on to say that "I know that one of Massimo's biggest fantasies has been to attend his own funeral. This will be the next best thing."

A commenter from Gizmodo actually didn't even wait to write the letter stating:

Hey Massimo!

I've never been to NYC, but your subway maps have actually been the biggest draw for me to go there. I hope to go there soon and ride those underground rails that I've been studying on the maps.

Vignelli's controversial 1972 map is in the MoMA and he is also well known for designing American Airline's logo as well as the transit map for the 2014 Super Bowl. Vignelli's design is also in service today on the MTA website as the dreaded Weekender Map. Not dreaded because it isn't pretty,  dreaded because everytime I look at it, I'm usually screwed. I live on the F line. 

Massimo describes his own work as "semantically correct, syntactically consistent, and pragmatically understandable. I like it to be visually powerful, intellectually elegant, and above all timeless." My introduction to Vignelli was through one of my all-time favorite documentaries Helvetica (yes I know I'm a huge dweeb). Take a look.

You can send your snail mail thoughts and inspirations to:

Massimo Vignelli
130 East 67 Street
New York, NY 10021