5 Famous Italian Interior Designers and the Works they are Famous for

Accessorizing our homes with luxurious natural products such as linen from Volga Linen is of utmost importance, but interior design is also so much more than this; it is about the design of, and bringing together of, artistic and imaginative furnishings that can transform bland empty spaces into creative and yet functional environments. It is no wonder then that we can look to Italy for some of the finest examples of interior designers, both past and present.

Gio Ponti

The Godfather of Italy’s post-war design renaissance, Gio Ponti brought Italian art deco to the forefront of people’s minds and was not only a designer, but also an architect. Some of his most well-known work as a designer comes from his time at the Manifattura Ceramica where he designed lamps, glass bottles and a range of chairs. His ‘Superleggera’ (superlight) chair from 1957 is very famous, as is his ‘Due Foglie’ sofa. Ponti also founded Domus magazine, which focused on design and architecture and he remained as Editor there until his death in 1979.

Mauro Lipparini

An interior designer best known for his natural minimalism style, Lipparini has won a number of awards during his career including the International Du Pont Award Koln (1988/1989) and the Young & Designer Milano (1987). His work in the field of industrial design for European and Japanese firms has been extensive but he has also concentrated on private and public housing, retail and wholesale showrooms and exposition installations. He is known for his use of bold colours and innovative ideas of visual art.

Vico Magistretti

Vico Magistretti began designing furniture in the 1960’s and created some of the most simple and intuitive designs to come out of Italy in the last 60 years. His famed pieces include chairs, tables and lamps that are both functional as well as aesthetically pleasing. He worked for many companies with the most famous being luxury furniture company Cassina and his ‘Maralunga’ sofa is often referred to as the world’s most comfortable sofa!

Andrea Fogli

Andrea Fogli is based in Milan and is most famous for the interior design of hotel resorts such as the Riviera Golf Resort & Spa, as well as cafes, restaurants and private homes throughout Europe. Known for his use of a neutral palette and simple lines, he ensures that the va va voom is in the detailing, such as metallic lamps and glitzy accents. He is also Creative Director for Domenico Mula’s furniture and design firm, Dom Edizioni.

Gae Aulenti

Working in the post-war period, Gae Aulenti was one of only a few female Italian interior designers. She believed that a person must resist passing trends and instead favour lasting values, which backs up her belief that it is people who make a room, a room. Her style was therefore modest and understated. Whilst working as a designer of furniture for Zanotta she created two of her most famous pieces: the stainless steel ‘April’ folding chair and her ‘Sanmarco’ table, which was constructed from plate- glass.