16/02/1918 – 02/12/2002
Achille Castiglioni, born in 1918 in Milan, Italy, and passed away in 2002, is one of the most influential industrial designers of the 20th century. His career, marked by a successful collaboration with his brothers Livio and Pier Giacomo, gave rise to iconic creations that blend functionality with innovative aesthetics.
A graduate in architecture from the Polytechnic University of Milan, Castiglioni began experimenting with industrial products in the 1940s, with a particular interest in reinventing everyday objects using new materials and technologies. His approach was guided by a design philosophy that sought to extract beauty from form and function, often introducing a touch of humor.
Among his most famous works is the Arco lamp from 1962, a floor lamp with a long, elegant arc that allows light to be directed where needed without the clutter of a traditional base. This piece, like many others designed by Castiglioni, combines ingenuity with minimalist elegance, using industrial materials in a revolutionary way.
Achille Castiglioni was also a passionate educator, teaching industrial design and sharing his vision of the importance of intelligent and functional details in product creation.
