♪ Music ♪
>>Three...Two...One... Go. 
>>Rochester Institute of
Technology and world-renowned
designers Massimo and Lella
Vignelli begin a new era in the
university's history with the
opening of the Vignelli Center
for Design Studies.
RIT broke ground on the center
in 2008. 
>>We came visiting here, many
years ago, and we saw how they
were using their archive and
that is the thing that really
moved me.
>>The facility features
exhibition space and an archive
of the couple's design work
spanning decades and mediums.
World famous architect Richard
Meier believes the Vignelli
center will attract tourists. 
>>I think people are gonna come
here from all over to see this
in the same way that they would
go to the museum.
It's the most beautiful
exhibition area that I've seen
in a long long time.
>>Revered by both their peers
and budding designers, hundreds
of people attended the
dedication of the Vignelli
Center.
>>We represent today just the
beginning of the generations of
students who will grow and
succeed because of the
Vignellis' mission to pass on
their timeless knowledge through
this center.
>> The Italian-born designers
have been friends and
supporters of RIT since the
early 1980s when Roger
Remington, the Vignelli
Distinguished Professor of
Design, invited Massimo Vignelli
to be the keynote speaker at a
design history conference.
>>He was aware of our interest
here in design history, and
history theory and criticism as
part of our academic program in
design, and I think it kind of
all came together when it came
time for them to decide on what
to do with their collection.
>>The Museum of Modern Art and
the National Museum of Design
were among the cultural
institutions interested in the
Vignellis' archive, but the
Vignellis said no.
At RIT, their work will be a
daily resource for students and
scholars.
>>The material is used every
day for teaching here, and so
the material in the archive is
alive, it's not dead. It's not
in the basement, it's not in an
attic.
>>For students like Cassandra
Angerosa having access to their
original designs and finished
pieces enhances the learning
experience.
>> Nothing will ever compare to
seeing the real like physical
work like being in the physical
presence being able to touch it
and like really see it. It's
just a completely immersive
experience unlike just looking
at a picture.
>> The architecture of the
center reflects the Vignelli
philosophy.
Simple, Modern, and minimal.
The facility is comprised of
two basic cubes, each three
stories tall, one cube is glass
to exhibit their work to the
public, while the brick cube
holds their archive.
This is just one small area of
the Vignelli archives. Here you
see some of their 3-D work
including their furniture
designs, and over here on these
shelves their original source
materials including sketchbooks.
These drawers are filled with
Vignelli designed posters-all
sorted individually by client.
>> This is so massimo right
here.
>> Plans are in the works to
create a master's degree program
in design studies.
For the Vignellis, knowledge of
the past is how you create good
design for the future.
>> This place would become a
magnet for all scholars.
Thank you. Before I start
crying.
>>For Campus Connection,
Kelly Downs,
RIT University News.
00:03:27.087,00:00:00.000
