Alessandro Mendini (1931–2019)

Radical Ornament: Design as Poetic Provocation

Alessandro Mendini was a visionary Italian architect, designer, and theorist whose work reshaped the landscape of postmodern design. Born in Milan in 1931, Mendini was a central figure in the Radical Design and postmodern movements of the 1970s and 80s, championing a bold, emotional, and narrative approach to objects and spaces.

Trained as an architect, Mendini first made his mark as editor-in-chief of the influential design magazines Casabella, Modo, and Domus, where he challenged modernist orthodoxy and gave voice to a new generation of experimental designers. But it was through his own creations — furniture, objects, interiors, and buildings — that his vision became iconic.

His most emblematic works, such as the Proust Armchair (1978), seamlessly combine classical references, vibrant colour, ornamentation, and a deep sense of irony. Rather than pursue functionality alone, Mendini’s design celebrated decoration, memory, and subjectivity, opening up new poetic dimensions in everyday objects.

He was a founding member of Studio Alchimia, and later collaborated with Ettore Sottsass and the Memphis Group, both of which played crucial roles in redefining the boundaries of design. Mendini’s collaborators included brands such as Alessi, Zanotta, Swatch, and Venini, and his projects ranged from product design to museum architecture.

Mendini's legacy is one of joyful resistance to standardisation — a celebration of the eccentric, the nostalgic, and the personal. His work is held in major collections including the MoMA in New York, the Vitra Design Museum, and the Triennale di Milano.

For Mendini, design was not just about solving problems — it was about telling stories, stirring emotions, and giving beauty a new, radical voice.