William Maks de May was born in Vienna, to Yugoslav parents, in 1917. He was trained at the Vienna Handelsakademie and established his own design business in Belgrade in 1935. Moving to Britain in 1939, he joined the RAF in 1941 and after the war re-established his design practice in London. De Majo was appointed consultant designer to Miles-Martin Pen Co., Miles Aircraft and Henry Lunn Ltd., W & A Gilbey, John Millar & Sons and later, Charles Letts & Co. Ltd. He offered services in graphic, industrial and exhibition design, corporate identity, packaging, and product development, as his entry in 'Who's Who in Graphic Art' (1962) described, 'his designs range from visiting cards to interiors of airliners'. In 1951, Willy de Mayo acted as co-ordinating designer of the 'Farm and Factory' exhibition held in Northern Ireland as part of the Festival of Britain. His wife, Veronica, designed a striking outdoor mobile as part of the display: she also assisted with many other projects. De Majo made a presentation at the Aspen International Design Conference in 1953 and in 1963 became the founding president of the International Council of Graphic Design Associations. His ability to speak several languages made him an effective advocate, and he was Chairman of the Icograda Congress in Zurich (1964) and in Bled (1966). His role in representing the design profession at an international level was significant and in 1969 he was awarded the SIAD Design Medal for International Services to Design and the Profession. He received various awards from design associations overseas.
Willy de Majo MBE, MSIA died in 1994. A memorial event was held at the London offices of Pentagram, on behalf of the Society of Typographic Designers, the Chartered Society of Designers and in association with Icograda.
From the guide to the Willy de Majo Archive, c.1939-1994, (University of Brighton Design Archives)
