Milan, 1930 – Milan, 1971

Cesare “Joe” Colombo, with his style defined as “futuristic,” determined by original shapes inspired by diverse sources, dynamic furnishing systems, and the use of metals and bright colors, helped to change everyday life, the habits and customs of Italians and beyond.
Trained at the Academy of Fine Arts of Brera, he initially pursued a career in the artistic field, joining the Nuclear Movement and participating in several exhibitions with artists like Enrico Baj, Sergio Dangelo, Lucio Fontana, and Bruno Munari. He began focusing on architecture, interior design, and product design starting in 1961 and, three years later, opened a design studio in Milan. This marked the beginning of a career filled with success and prestigious recognitions, unfortunately interrupted at the age of only 41 due to a heart attack. Colombo contributed to redefining the professional figure of the industrial designer in Italy during the 1960s: in each of his projects, a completely innovative interest in the kinetic dimension and the change and transformability of objects and spaces over time stands out. Even today, nearly fifty years after his death, his most iconic products continue to amaze.

Major Awards
2 Compasso d’Oro Awards (1967, 1970)
1 Gold Medal at the Triennale di Milano (1964)
1 First Prize at the SMAU in Milan (1971)