Sexy plastic seating and Heller are practically synonymous. From roto molded polymer and injection molded nylon or polycarbonate to the injection molding of modified, fiberglass reinforced polypropylene, the international furniture manufacturer has masterd the art of furniture production in plastic – whatever the type. “Good design, industrial production and reasonable prices”: the Vignelli chair designed by Lella and Massimo Vignelli in 2006 fits Heller’s paradigm all too well.

Vignelli Chair. Designed by Lella and Massimo Vignelli for Heller.

Sleek and shiny with soft, sinuous curves, the one-piece, injection-molded nylon Vignelli Chair is a modern day classic, offering “the simplicity and functionality for which the Vignellis are legendary.” Indoors or outdoors; at restaurants, lounges, patios, dining rooms or of course right in your home, the chair provides a distinguished style to any environment.  “I like design to be semantically correct, syntactically consistent, and pragmatically understandable. I like it to be visually powerful, intellectually elegant, and above all timeless.” explained Massimo Vignelli. Made of UV and weather-resistant resin (in black, warm red or warm grey), the Vignelli Chair strong and durable too.

“For about 35 years, Heller has offered leading designers the opportunity to work with new technologies to create innovative products.” Massimo & Lella Vignelli, Philippe Starck, Mario Bellini, Vico Magistretti, William Sawaya, De Pas, D’Urbino & Lomazzi, Frank Gehry, and Studio 65 are among the privileged few. Perhaps the most recognizable of their designs, the aptly named Bellini Chair, has been previously featured on 3Rings (as have Studio 65’s Bocca Lip Sofa and Frank Gehry’s furniture collection) – and of course has more recently been a current topic of controversy (think lawsuit and DWR) . So if you were convinced that all plastic furniture looked like the crappy stacking chairs you might find at Walmart, think again.

Massimo and Lella Vignelli are among the most influential designers of the twentieth century, with their work represented in museums worldwide. Along with many other honors, Massimo Vignelli has won two Compasso d’Oros.

If you’re a fan of Massimo Vignelli, Heller or design in general – and are located in the vicinity of Manhattan – mark tomorrow on your calendar. Join the Designer Pages team at Heller’s NYC showroom for the January IDNY meetup with Massimo Vignelli: Thursday January 14 at 6:30pm. If that’s not incentive enough, there’s an open bar.