Foscarini Lighting- Contemporary Italian Designs

The Foscarini collection brings together objects that express strong ideas with special character of their own. Ideas are transformed into a tangible reality thanks to the contribution of leading personalities from the world of design. Foscarini lights up their creativity and guides their proposals.

The cornerstone of Foscarini is research into forms and materials. Established in 1981 in Venice. Foscarini started out by exploring the opportunities offered by Murano glass. Over the years, the range of materials used has expanded to include glass, polyethylene, wood and aluminum, as well as patented materials such as an exclusive textured glass and Kevlar (R) or carbon fiber composite. Designers that have created for Foscarini include:

Aldo Cibic

Founder, with Ettore Sottsass, Matteo Thun and Marco Zanini of "Sottsass Associati," later "Studio Memphis". Creator of Cocó and Lampoon.

Defne Koz

An industrial designer who started her career in the sphere of the Domus Academy, she provides consulting for product development and creative support for product strategy innovation in household appliances, electronics, furnishing, urban furnishing, accessories for the home and table, lighting systems, interior design and objects for homes and shops. Designer of Dress and Circus.

Denis Santachiara

His creative territory being the borderlands of art and design, he's always been keen to discover and experiment new expressive potential. He has works in permanent collections in the MOMA in New York and Tokyo. Creator of the Elfo.

Ferruccio Laviani

An architect and designer, he works in the fields of furnishings and accessories, industrial communication, exhibition, event and showroom installation. His contemporary style is hallmarked by a particular sign or colour. Ferruccio's designs for Foscarini include Bit, Lenin, Orbital, Dolmen and Supernova

Giovanni Levanti

An architect, he got his Master's in industrial design (1983) at the Domus Academy, where he currently teaches. Designer of the Quadro wall sconce.

Itamar Harari

Graduated in architecture in Italy, he now collaborates with the Milan firms "Zanuso" and "Atelier Alchimia". He specializes in private residential design, installations, industrial design. In 1995 he set up a design and management consultancy. For Forcarini he has created the unique Mir table lamp.

Jozeph Forakis

An artist and designer of Greek origin. after his Master's at the Domus academy in Milan, he worked on various projects and studies to merge design and ergonomics. One of his biggest successes was the admission of his "Havana" to New York's MoMA (design collection '98).

Karim Rashid

Karim Rashid was born in Cairo in 1960 and was raised mostly in Canada. He received a Bachelor of Industrial Design in 1982 from Carleton University in Ottawa. He pursued graduate design studies in Naples, Italy, with Ettore Sottsass and others, then moved to Milan for one year at the Rodolfo Bonetto Studio. He opened his own practice in New York City in 1993. He has designed the Blob series for Foscarini.

Lievore Asociados

The firm of Lievore was founded in Barcelona in 1991 by Alberto Lievore, Jannette Altherre and Manel Molina. Its current activities include interior design, packaging design, art direction and consulting, as well as teaching posts in two university centres in Barcelona. Creators of the Esa table lamp.

Luca Nichetto / Gianpetro Gai

Luca Nichetto and Gianpietro Gai studied industrial design at the faculty of Architecture of Venice University. They have been working together since 1998 on lighting, furnishing, accessories and gifts, graphics and web design. Creations include the Rha, Thor, Maui, O-space and Gea.

Marc Sadler

A designer, he's worked a long time in the sports sector, where he's experimented with new materials and innovative production processes. Has also worked successfully in furnishing and consumer products. Creations for Foscarini include the Kite, Giga Lite, Mega Kite, Lite, Mite and Tite.

Matilde Alessandra

Born in Italy, after training in theatre design in Venice, Matilde Alessandra moved first to London, where she designed interiors and installations for several years, then settled in New York in 1999. Her work ranges from whole installations to industrial design. Matilde's first luminous pieces were made in her New York studio a couple of years ago. Her production has since moved on to include lighting fixtures (for the Belgian company LIGHT), one-off pieces commissioned by architects and private collectors, and complete installations. Among her clients are Ian Schrager, Tony Nourmand and Calvin Klein. Her most important shows: Luce Colore Ombre, Milano Fuorisalone, April 2001; Matilde Alessandra-Jean Christophe Le Greves LIGHTS West Chelsea Arts eeBuilding, New York City, October 2001; LIGHTINLINE (sponsored by OSRAM), Milano Fuorisalone, April 2002. She now divides her time betweet Brussels and New York. She has designed the unique Ellepi wall and ceiling light.

Patricia Urquiola / Eliana Gerotto

Born in Orviedo (Spain), Patricia Urquiola lives and works in Milan. She studied in Madrid and graduated from the Politecnico di Milano in 1989 with Achille Castiglioni as a tutor. From 1990 to 2000, she collaborated with De Padova and Lissoni Associati. In 2001 she has started her own design studio. She now works for Alessi, B&B, Bart, Bosa, De Vecchi, Fasem, MDF, Molteni, Moroso, San Lorenzo and for Knoll, Sag 80, Somma, R. Torreta. Eliana Gerotto has born in Venice. She began in Milan as a graphic designer. She received her diploma in Communication Techniques at Fondazione Davide Campari in Milan. She works in various fields: graphics for "Elle" magazine in Paris and for Biennale di Venezia. She collaborates with Benetton, Molteni&C, ArchLinea, Vernini. She designs dressing for shows and fairs in Paris, Berlin, Venezia and Ferrara. As an interior decorator she designed houses, offices, restaurants, gyms, hotels and shops. Designers of the Bague table lamp.

Pietro Lissoni

In 1986 he set up Studio Lissoni to develop interior design, design and graphics projects. This eclectic and intuitive personality also works as art director and designer for prestige furnishing firms, show rooms, trade fair installations and furnishing accessories. Desginer of the Flat wall sconce.

Pio & Tito Tossi

Two architects who focus on the design of furnishing, lights and exhibitions and on the implementation of architecture and interior design projects in both the public and private spheres. Creators of the Manta wall sconce.

Prospero Rasulo

Artist and designer, since 1980 he's done set designs (pictorial and plastic), advertising and private installations. Since 1982 he's alternated between design work and promoting cultural initiatives. In '87 he founded "Studio Oxidio", a gallery of art, design and architecture, as well as a brand of furniture collections and furnishing objects. Designer of the Qua.

Roberto & Ludovica Palomba

Roberto and Ludovica Palomba Serafini, architects and designers, have worked together since 1994. their fields are architecture, design, art direction, marketing and exhibitions. Often mentioned, they won 2nd prize in the 1999 "young&design" competition. Creations for Foscarini include the Dom and the Hola.

Rodolfo Dordoni

An architect whose work ranges across art direction, furnishing and lamp designs, exhibitions, renovations, show room and point of sale set-ups. Some of the most famous objects of italian design carry his signature, including the Lumiere, Bijou, Fruits and Buds lamps.

Studio Kairos

"Kairos" is a classic greek word meaning: right spot, right place, right time, right measure. Studio Kairos, inspired by this concept since its foundation in 1980, operates in industrial design and developement, as well as in the building and furnishing fields. Kairos also means: Massimo Bonetti, born in Torino in 1949, engineer; Giuseppe Manente, born in Mestre (Venezia) in 1947, architect; Abramo Mion, born in Mirano (Venice) in 1951, who have received both architecture and engineering degrees. Studio Kairos has received many prizes throughout its history, including the Compasso d'Oro Prize, in 1984 with "Armadio Sisamo" for B&B ITALIA; and the MILANO OFFICE DESIGN prize in 1991. Studio Kairos has worked with some of the most important Italian furniture companies, such as B&B ITALIA, MOLTENI & C., GRUPPO ARC LINEA, POLIFORM E VARENNA. For Foscarini, they have created the Yet wall sconce.

Tom Dixon

This spirited, London-trained designer is manager, craftsman and inventor rolled into one. He's well known for his trellis work and plastic objects but has also left his mark with some interesting urban projects. He's currently creative director of a famous furnishing accessories chain. Designer of the Lightweight chandelier.

Urbinati - Ricci e Vecchiato

They both began their relationship with Foscarini as designers, starting out the present lamp collection. After some time they took up the management, becoming the authors of its history. They are the promotors of the new company's profile. Designs include Folio, Spape and Plana.

Valerio Bottin

He started his career designing commercial, residential and industrial buildings. In 1993 he embarked on a prolific collaboration with Foscarini, of whose style he is a ceaselessly original interpreter: Cross, Double, Mistral, Affix, Spring, Bubble, Totem, Tutú and Vitt are just some of his creations.