Giulio Cappellini

Giulio Cappellini (1953-) can be defined as the greatest "talent scout" in the history of Italian design. He was one of the main protagonists of that trend which saw the Italian manufacturing world become the point of reference for the most talented designers from all over the globe. Putting together the names of the then unknown designers he launched into the empyrean of design leaves one speechless: from Jasper Morrison to the brothers Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, from Nendo to Tom Dixon, from Marc Newson to Marcel Wanders. An architect by training, after a year of apprenticeship at Gio Ponti's studio, Giulio Cappellini began working in 1977 for the small family business, getting help from his fellow student Rodolfo Dordoni in designing the first lines of designer furniture. Great international fame for Cappellini began to arrive in 1986, when the brand obtained the production rights for Shiro Kuramata's most famous creations. From there began a great journey that continued throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, years in which Cappellini would also be the protagonist of the launch of the Fuorisalone event with its special installations at the Superstudio in Milan. In 2004 Cappellini entered the orbit of the Poltrona Frau group, with Giulio Cappellini remaining the art director of the brand alongside a new adventure in the field of teaching, as director of the Design Department of the Istituto Marangoni. In 2022 he was awarded a Compasso d'Oro for Lifetime Achievement.