Alessandro Mendini (1931 - 2019)

Alessandro Mendini was born in Milan in 1931 where he graduated in architecture from the Polytechnique School.

Initially associated with Studio Nizzoli (1960-1970), the Italian designer quickly proved to be one of the spearheads of the new Made in Italy production, and of what was to be called the Radical Design. This movement, promoting a decorative and critical approach, aims to break with the international modernism. It materialized with Studio Alchimia, in which Mendini acted alongside Ettore Sottsass, Michele De Lucchi and Andrea Branzi.

Mendini liked to use colors to revive everyday objects. His work earned him, among other things, the supreme award for a designer, the Golden Compass of Milan in 1982. In addition to his work as a creator, he directed the architecture magazine Casabella (1970 - 1976), then the Modo magazines (1977 - 1981) and Domus (Created by Gio Ponti) from 1979 to 1985. He was also collaborator and advisor to Alessi and the artistic director of Swatch.