The Italian industrial designer and architect Achille Castiglioni (1918-2002) is considered one of Italy's foremost ambassadors of design. He was born in Milan, a city that knew how to make design a hallmark, and where Castiglioni benefited from a fortuitous combination of circumstances that made Italian design the best in the world.
He began working in industrial design in 1940, alongside his older brothers, Livio and Pier Giacomo, also architects and already dedicated to design. After graduating in architecture in 1944, he began researching forms, techniques, and new materials, with the aim of developing a comprehensive design process .
In 1956 he founded ADI (Associazione italiana del Disegno Industriale), together with other renowned Italian industrial designers such as Vico Magistretti.
His professional career is impressive. He has received the Compasso d'Oro nine times, 14 of his works are on display at MoMA—and many more are spread across the world's most important museums. countless awards and decorations and, above all, unwavering prestige and recognition.
He knew how to combine observation skills, ingenuity, and common sense to transform everyday objects into beautiful and functional pieces whose fascination remains intact over the years.
