Enzo Mari

He started his activity with studies on visual perception and then focused his attention on games for children, graphics, design and architecture: different directions sharing a common idea that is the reflection on the meaning of shape and project. He was consultant for Arredo Urbano of the Milan town hall and president of the Association for Industrial Design (1976-1979). He was awarded the Compasso d'Oro in 1967, 1979, 1987 and in 2001 for his table "Tavolo legato". In 2001 he published the book "Progetto e passione" (Project and passion) which analyses the design on a wider cultural horizon. He collaborates with design companies such as Artemide, Castelli, Danese, Driade, Gabbianelli, Interflex, Lema, Magis, Zanotta.

What Alessi says about Mari:
"Enzo Mari harbours a critical attitude towards our company, despite the fact that it is different from the many others on the international design scene. Without question he is my "master of paranoia": a sort of guardian angel on my shoulder who wags a disapproving finger when I do something he feels I shouldn't! We met in the late seventies, when I wanted to include his Arran tray, designed for Danese, in our Programme 7 - and I succeeded, finally, twenty years later, in 1997. In a conference held in Paris, with his characteristic verbal vehemence, he expressed the concept I have cited above. The words struck me, I made them mine, and the phrase has served as a launchpad for theoretical research into the "Factory of Italian Design". I am delighted he is still working and building up his family in our catalogue. I find his criticisms valuable, every now and then we need him to reset the needle of our compass to North, the direction it should be pointing in, even in mid-storm."