The Art of Timeless Design: A tribute to the hugely influential Massimo Vignelli

The show brings together tribute poster designs by 33 international studios (think - Spin, Magpie, Mark Studio, Mash Creative, Toko and Hey, to name but a few), alongside original material from Massimo Vignelli that has been kindly donated by Beatriz Cifuentes and Yoshiki Waterhouse, associates of Vignelli for the last 15 years, and all of which belong to their own private archive.

Of course, the greatest achievement of the designer Vignelli, who died last year aged 83, was to give America a modern look. With its bursts of bright colour and its bold typography, his work on the New York subway system redefined Manhattan in the 1970s. And it came at just the right time, when the city was at its lowest ebb, threatened by bankruptcy and violent crime. The maps and the signage he designed were an optimistic statement in the midst of all the decay, a glimpse of a better future.

One of the poster designs – as featured above – was created by Sydney studio Toko in tribute to Vignelli's work on the New York subway. You can see what other designers have created at the Okendo Cultural Centre in Donostia/San Sebastian where the exhibition will take place until 18 April 2015.