American Airlines Logotype By Designer Massimo Vignelli

Massimo Vignelli is a patriarch of contemporary corporate design. His desire for clean lines and direct communication with the audience manifest in concise use of line, color and typography that coalesce into identities that have stood much more than the test of time, they have withstood the test of consumerism in a disposable capitalist society. Perhaps his most recognizable and “classic” design is that of the American Airlines logo. This simple logo speaks concisely what the brand is and appeals to the audience that they target resulting in a brilliant execution of design.

The American Airlines identity was introduced in 1967. This new, subtle yet overpoweringly patriotic branding was a departure from the gimmicks of past advertising. It announced American Airlines as the professional airline. It let the corporation’s reputation speak for itself and garnered prestige. This is one of the earlier uses of the Helvetica typeface which has since inundated not just corporate identity but all facets of visual communication and graphic design.

Massimo Vignelli’s ubiquitous corporate identities are only surpassed by the diversity of his designs. He has dabbled in virtually everything that can be designed from packaging, to furniture, products, interiors, books, posters, and even transportation graphics. If a human can interact with it, Massimo Vignelli has designed it or something similar. His staying power comes from his simplistic design which is an echo of his contemporary Dieter Rams who said “good design is as little design as possible”. Vignelli creates direct links from faceless entities, such as corporations, with us, the consumer. We find comfort in his designs because they are familiar. We find comfort in his designs because they are relatable. We find comfort in his designs because they are so similar to the people who see them: seemingly simple on the surface, yet so complex beneath.

American Airlines is a registered trademark of American Airlines Inc.