Massimo Vignelli's Canon
One of the stories Massimo Vignelli shared was about his arrival in the United States from Italy. You can imagine the difference between each country post-world war two - America bursting with confidence and consumer choice and Italy rebuilding after occupation and the punishing consequences being on the wrong side - though, Italians being Italian: bursting with confidence. Vignelli saw the volume of design and advertising that was taking place in the States and mentally divided it between utilitarian design and design that is intended to persuade.