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Love It If We Made It is a social anthem by The 1975 which chronicles troubling political and social issues in modern life. The song is inspired by events which occurred between 2016-2018 and is meant to inspire despite narrating problematic issues that have happened.

The song begins with:

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We’re fucking in a car, shooting heroin

Saying controversial things just for the hell of it

Selling melanin and then suffocate the black men

Starts with misdemeanors and then we’ll make a business out of them

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The first two verses are meant to grab attention especially in a world where everything is designed to do just that. The next two verses points out that the US prison system profits off black men by giving them harsh sentences to gain free labor from them as the verses suggest, “make a business out of them”.

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Oh fuck your feelings

Truth is only hearsay

We’re left here to decay

Modernity has failed us

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“Fuck your feelings” alludes to a Trump shirt that was in a rally. Meanwhile, the next verse illustrates that we are now living in a society in which even factual truth can be denied or misrepresented for political play and is said to be “hearsay”. The verse “modernity has failed us” is a theme that is portrayed throughout the entire song.

The music video itself is an Easter egg basket of all sorts. When the video begins, it showcases plastic floating in the ocean and the globe, indicative of climate change. It then portrays issues it doesn’t address in its lyrics, such as gun violence, police violence towards black communities.

The Vignellis are perhaps the most famous couple in design. The late Massimo and Lella Vignelli worked for several decades on numerous projects ranging from architectural feats to dinnerware sets, and most notably, the New York subway system wayfinding signage. Their Italian heritage and culture informs their passionate and lighthearted approach to life.

I recently watched Design is One, a documentary on the Vignelli’s work. It was full of insight and humor, an intriguing look into the life of two prolific, innovative designers.

Upon viewing Kathy Brew and Roberto Guerra’s documentary on the late Vignellis, I was delighted to see the work of Lella and Massimo Vignelli documented and explained so eloquently–a metaphor for their design work which is simultaneously simple and gorgeous. The 2012 film highlights a few key works of art made by the dynamic duo over the past 50-plus years in a way that is powerful yet humorous at times. What really struck me was the intimate humanity prevalent in the film–the interviews with Lella and Massimo themselves and testimonials by well-known architects, designers, and friends (Glaser, Bierut, Meier to name a few) highlighted their beautiful partnership, full of play, honesty, and of course, bickering.

With decades of marriage and work shared between them, the film emphasized Lella’s important and equal role in their collaboration. Despite Massimo usually holding most of the spotlight, I enjoyed the credit attributed to Lella in their creative process. Massimo is described as “the dreamer” and Lella “the reality.” To even stay together for that long is a feat in and of itself, but to curate a professional relationship in addition to marriage is truly admirable.

What I enjoyed most about the film is the overall theme of design as an inherently utilitarian tool. Through objects such as the Heller plastic dinnerware set or the redesign of the New York City subway system, the Vignellis demonstrate their dedication for design as a way to improve people’s everyday lives. With countless projects and collaborations under their wings, Lella and Massimo have definitely achieved their dream of being immortal.