3 Italian Designers You Should Know About

Throughout my education and career in Interior Design, I have always been fascinated with Italian designers. Being a real lover of everything Italy related; its culture, architecture, fashion and beautiful scenes across the country, there’s no wonder that I have become fascinated with some key Italian designers over the years.

I have been doing a lot of reflection recently on some of my inspirations for what I do and where my particular tastes have originated from. Most designers have and take inspirations from previous projects and aspire to achieve similar things to those that have gone before. Many of mine stem from either Parisian style apartments, or the Italian design scene.

This week I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to share with you the three great Italian Designers whom I feel everyone should know about. These designers have been pioneers in their specialism and later become influencers to many modern projects, even today.

Italian design is known for its sleek and clean lines. And like the country’s history, it continues to harbour eclecticism, diversity and artistic experimentation.

So without further ado, let’s take a closer look at the three Italian Designers you should know about!

Gio Ponti

Gio Ponti was an Italian architect, industrial designer, furniture designer, artist, teacher, writer, publisher… The list goes on! It would seem when it came to the creative arts, there was almost nothing that Ponti hadn’t delved into.

His career spanned a total of six decades! And built more than a hundred buildings in Italy and the rest of the world.

Other than his expansive architectural career and multitude of skills, he created a vast amount of furniture design work too. Of which, his most famous work is the Superleggera Chair, produced by Cassina in 1957 (pictured below).

Italian designers you should know — Photo Credit – Cassina

Since Ponti’s death in 1979, a number of furniture brands have reissued his furniture designs with a new lease of life. Many of these mid-century pieces now form a key part of global interior projects. They are the perfect addition which adds true Italian eclecticism.

One of my personal favourites, the D.153.1 armchair by Molteni, was originally designed by Ponti in 1953 as part of the furniture for his private home in via Dezza in Milan. The re-edition was produced by Molteni based on his original drawings from archives.

Italian designers furniture — Photo Credit – Molteni

Another one of my favourite pieces from Ponti’s collection at Molteni is the D.154.2 armchair. Known as the “love chair” it has won many awards and has become an icon.

Antonio Citterio

Antonio Citterio is an Italian architect, furniture and industrial designer who lives and works in Milan. Most notably, Citterio worked in association with Terry Dwan from 1987 to 1996, designing buildings in Europe and Japan.

In 2000, Citterio founded a multi-disciplinary practice for architecture and interior design with Patricia Viel, called “Antonion Citterio Patricia Viel”.

Currently, Citterio works within the industrial design sector with a number of well known modern and contemporary furniture manufactures. Companies such as Axor-Hansgrohe, B&B Italia, Flexform, Flos, Hermes, Kartell, Maxalto and Vitra.

To any current interior designer, these furniture companies will be of no surprise! I myself frequently purchase pieces from these groups for clients.

Matteo Nunziati

Matteo Nunziati is an architect and interior designer who opened his interior design firm in Milan in 2000. The design sector of the studio includes industrial products collaborating with many current luxury brands. Molteni, Poliform and Fontana Arte are a few of the affluent brands Nunziati collaborates with.

Working for both commercial and private residential clients, Matteo Nunziati creates luxurious interiors across the globe. His studio has worked on highly regarded projects such as 432 Park Avenue in New York.

Whilst taking inspirations from Italy’s design history Matteo Nunziati effortlessly provides an exchange between interior architecture and product.

The Design Task is to create an object which balances mankind’s functional and existential needs.
Matteo Nunziati

Nunziati’s projects meet the highest aesthetic and technical quality standards and he strives to “achieve unique, luxury results in the form of living spaces with an intense dialogue between furniture, fittings and ornaments.”

There we have it! The top three Italian designers whom I have taken great inspirations from over the years of training and working in the interiors industry…

What do you think of Ponti, Citterio and Nunziati’s works? Who would be in your Top 3 Italian Designer list relating to interiors?

Take Care,

Jessica xo