Alessandro Mendini is one of the key figures of 20th-century design. Both in theory and in practice, he leaves an important legacy behind him.
Mendini was a radical designer who significantly influenced architecture and design in the 20th century, in Italy and on a global scale. He brought colour and exciting forms into theory and practice, leaving a significant legacy behind. Born in Milan in 1931, Mendini was an architect, industrial designer, and director of iconic magazines such as Casabella, Modo, and Domus. He championed the Radical design movement in the ‘70s and was a founder of Studio Alchimia, authored of the famous Swatch watches and the golden age of Alessi. He promoted the concept of ‘post-industrial neo-crafting’, which reflects what we at BD have been doing since the company was founded. During the ‘80s, he designed rugs for BD and has been in numerous collections and exhibitions at BD. The Cristallo cabinet was to be his last design before he passed away in 2019 at the age of 87.