Alessandro Mendini

Colour, Decoration and Re-design

Alessandro Mendini (1931–2019) was one of the leading figures in Italian design between Radical Design and Postmodernism. An architect, designer and theorist, he challenged functionalism by introducing colour, decoration, irony and a strong artistic dimension into everyday objects.

Editor of magazines such as Casabella, Modo and Domus and a central figure in Studio Alchimia, Mendini developed the concept of re-design, reinterpreting existing forms and objects through new visual languages. The celebrated Proust Armchair (1978) is one of its most recognisable expressions.

His collaboration with Alessi resulted in numerous objects that became part of design history, including the Anna G. corkscrew (1994). Throughout his career, Mendini also collaborated with companies such as Zanotta, Cappellini and Venini, bringing his distinctive language from everyday objects to furniture and architecture.

Winner of three Compasso d’Oro awards, Mendini left behind an instantly recognisable design universe in which art and design meet through colour, decoration and the continuous reinterpretation of objects.