Career
His archive is located at the University of Brighton Design Archives. After undertaking his training at the Vienna Commercial Academy (Wiener Handelsakademie), de Majo founded a design business in Belgrade in 1935. In 1939, de Majo moved to Britain and joined the British Broadcasting Corporation as a broadcaster for their overseas service.
From 1941-1943, de Majo served with the Royal Yugoslav Air Force attached to the Royal Air Force.
In 1944 he was with the War Ministry in London, and between 1945-1946, he was with the Royal Air Force at Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force. De Majo was awarded a military Administration Member of the Order of the British Empire for his service.
Following the end the war, de Majo re-established his design practice - West. M. de Majo Associates - in London, offering graphic and exhibition design services, alongside corporate identity and product development. Clients at this time included British Overseas Airways Corporation and British South American Airways for whom he designed posters, and Charles Letts & Company Limited for whom he designed address books and diaries.
De Majo designed the museum exhibition at Baden-Powell House, London, which was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1961.
In 1951, de Majo was the co-ordinating designer of the ‘Ulster Farm and Factory’ exhibition which was part of the The exhibition, held at Castlereagh, Northern Ireland told the story of how Ulster earned its living through agriculture and industry, and had as its central theme, the continuing tradition of craftsmanship and skill in farm and factory. In 1963 de Majo became the first president of the International Council of Graphic Design Associations (), an organization he founded with Peter Kneebone, recognizing “the need to create meaningful international dialogue around the future trajectory of graphic design.”
De Majo chaired the Congresses in Zurich (1964) and in Bled (1966). A film was made of the Congress in Bled - 66 (1966) - for which de Majo wrote the commentary.
