Gio Ponti

Architect, designer, set designer and academic Giovanni Ponti, or Gio, born in Milan in 1891, was and is one of the greatest names in international architecture. Amongst the founding fathers of design, Gio Ponti is considered the inventor of “Made in Italy”, promoting the concept of modern decor through a neo-decorative style, which he preached in both his professional and teaching career, in the Triennale di Milano exhibitions that he organised, in his involvement with the ADI with his Compasso d'Oro award, and in magazines such as Domus, that he founded in 1928 and directed until his death in 1979. A relentless inventor of unfailing creative forms for more than fifty years, Gio Ponti gave us masterpieces on every scale, from the Pirelli Tower in Milan, to the Superleggera chair for Cassina, also holding the long-standing and prolific position as artistic director for ceramic manufacturer Richard-Ginori, which continues to produce his irreplaceable designs. An extraordinary and paradigmatic artist admired worldwide.