The Design Factory (Art & Design Monographs (Paper)) - Softcover

Alessi, Alberto

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1854903349 ISBN 13: 9781854903341

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, 1994

Synopsis

During the 1980s the Alessi company emerged at the forefront of design activity. Founded in 1921 to produce crafted products in metal for eating and drinking, Alberto Alessi launched the company into the design decade through his collaboration with designers and architects such as Sottsass, Sapper, Castiglioni and Mendini and the creation of two main trade marks: "Alessi", geared towards mass production and "Officina Alessi" towards more experimental limited editions. Alberto Alessi discusses the company's design ethos, viewing it as a research laboratory in the applied arts. Michael Graves and Alessandro Mendini provide their own personal views, as do many of the designers who have worked with Alessi. Daniel Weil writes from an academic point of view and Nonie Niesewand from that of a design editor. All the famous products are illustrated and many less well-known and unpublished material is also included. Following the rebuttal of the design decade, this book shows how Alessi flourishes and develops into the 1990s.

About this title

From the Inside Flap

Alessi The Design Factory During the 1980s the Alessi company emerged at the fore-front of design activity. Founded in 1921 to produce crafted products in metal for eating and drinking. Alberto Alessi launched the company into the design decade through his unique collaboration with designers and architects such as Ettore Sottsass, Richard Sapper. Achille Castiglioni and Alessandro Mendini, and the creation of two main trade marks: 'Alessi', geared towards mass production and 'Officina Alessi' towards more experimental limited editions. Alberto Alessi discusses the company's design ethos, viewing it as a research laboratory in the Applied Arts, and in comprehensive extracts from the Alessi Factory Journal he provides valuable insights into the evolution of products and the relationships with their designers. Alessandro Mendini, Ettore Sottsass, Richard Sapper, Achille Castiglioni, Richard Meier, Hans Hollein and Andrea Branzi contribute statements on their work with Alessi, and there are essays by Michael Graves, Nonie Niesewand, Marco Migliari and Daniel Weil. All the famous products are fully illustrated as well as much less well-known and unpublished material. Following the rebuttal of the design decade, this book shows how Alessi flourishes and develops into the 1990s. Art & Design Monographs are a new series of publications concentrating on artists and designers of lasting interest and importance. Fully illustrated in colour, the Monographs contain expertly written commentaries on the careers and works of the individuals represented providing a richly visual and comprehensive critical study. Other Monographs include: Allen Jones Christopher Dresser Arthur Boyd at Bundanon

Edition details

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
• Publication date: 1994
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1854903349
• ISBN 13: 9781854903341
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 145