Bio

Until 1966

Studies architecture in Florence

1966–92

Co-founds Archizoom Associati (1966–74) and Global Tools (1974/75), and joins Studio Alchimia (1976–92), three avant-garde groups critical of Functionalism, to which he contributes designs and theoretical work

1972–75

Columnist for the architecture and design magazine Casabella

From 1973

Design offce in Milan; designs for Alessi, Cassina, Vitra, Zabro, Zanotta, and others; takes part in international exhibitions (such as the Triennale di Milano and Venice Biennale)

1975

Joins forces with Ettore Sottsass, Alessandro Mendini, Clino Trini Castelli, Massimo Morozzi, and others to co-found the group Consulenti Design Milano (CDM), which conducts basic design research

1979

Awarded the Compasso d’Oro for Fibermatching 25, a needlefelt dyeing system created jointly with Castelli and Morozzi for the textiles manufacturer Montefibre

1980

First anthology of theoretical essays, Moderno, postmoderno, millenario; since then a number of publications (including La casa calda / The Hot House in 1984 and Introduzione al design italiano in 1999)

From 1982

Creates designs for the Memphis group

1982–84

Editor of the architecture and design magazine Modo

1983

Founds the Domus Academy, Milan, where he holds various senior positions (until 1996)

1983/84

Guest lecturer at the Università degli Studi di Palermo

From 1984

Lectures at universities in France, USA, Japan, and Brazil

1987

Awarded the Compasso d’Oro for his life’s work

1991

Founds the Domus Design Agency, Tokyo

1991–93

Involved in Citizen Office, an exhibition project about the ffce of the future staged by the Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein, Germany

1992

Published Luoghi, an anthology of his most important projects from 1966–91

since 2025

Professor and chairman of the school of interior design at the Politecnico di Milano

2008

Awarded title of Honorary Royal Designer for Industry by the RSA, London