Mendini/ Poletti - Atelier Mendini Una utopia visiva - 1994

Alessandro Mendini (1931-2019) was an Italian designer and architect known for his playful, colorful, and eclectic style. He was a leading figure in the postmodern design movement, and one of the founders of the Radical design movement in the 1970s, with Ettore Sottsass, Andrea Branzi, and Michele De Lucchi at Studio Alchimia.

Mendini designed a number of iconic objects and buildings, namely the ‘Proust’ armchair (1978), and the Groninger Museum in the Netherlands (1994). He advised and created for international brands such as Alessi and Philips, and was the artistic director of Swatch.

The Italian maestro was awarded the Compasso d’Oro for design on several occasions (1979; 1981; 2014), and in France, received the title of ‘Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres’. His work can be found in the permanent collections of major museums worldwide, such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Also active on the editorial side of the design world, Mendini was the director of the magazines ‘Casabella’ (from 1970 to 1976), ‘Modo’ (which he founded in 1977 and directed until 1988) and ‘Domus’ (1979-1985, 2010-2011).

He developed several collections with Galerie kreo since 2001.