Jeanne Grignani: a hidden legacy

Over the past two decades, a research project has been developed to rediscover and celebrate the overlooked female figures in Italian graphic design, long neglected by official historiography. This project maps the presence of women during the ‘Golden Age’ of Italian graphic design and involves leading designers, historians, and critics in the field.
The purpose of this historical-critical study extends beyond rediscovering these female pioneers and lesser-known contributors. It aims to highlight their impact on the profession, recognize their legacy, and rewrite a more inclusive and accurate history of Italian graphic design.

Within this context, the study of Jeanne Michot Grignani emerges as especially significant. Though she was a prolific designer from 1945 to the late 1960s and the partner of the acclaimed graphic artist Franco Grignani, her contributions have largely remained in the shadows of design history. Notably, in a 1954 article, Antonio Boggeri observed: “everybody, and especially the feminine world, is familiar with her designs, ubiquitous in the fashion journals.”

In 2024, Cristina Simone, a Communication Design graduate at IUAV University of Venice, launched an ambitious research project to address this gap. Her work delves into Jeanne Grignani’s career, exploring her impact on the socio-cultural and graphic landscape of the mid-20th century.
The research outlines Jeanne Michot Grignani’s professional journey, first as a fashion illustrator and designer and later in relation to her husband, Franco Grignani, examining both their collaborations and individual achievements.

Lastly, the study involved extensive archival research, consulting primary and secondary sources in private collections, libraries, and through interviews with the designer’s heirs. The final result of this research was the creation of the first proper archive dedicated to Jeanne Michot Grignani, which represents the second most substantial part of the entire project.
The over 250-page study, featuring close to 300 images – many previously unpublished – stands as the most comprehensive exploration of Jeanne Grignani’s legacy to date. This work enriches and balances the narrative of Italian graphic design by finally recognizing the contributions of a significant, yet overlooked, female figure.

The creation of Jeanne Michot Grignani’s first archive does not end with this project, on the contrary takes off from it, presenting itself as a starting point for other future developments and expansions. Indeed, we hope this research will inspire future generations of students to continue and expand this cataloguing effort, further solidifying Jeanne Grignani’s place in the history of graphic design.