Bruno Munari's dizzyingly versatile body of work has always been hard to categorise. But he had the rare ability to alchemise the ordinary into something luminous
If you can design one thing, you can design everything, wrote Massimo Vignelli. Venice-based duo Zaven are out to prove it. From product design to graphics to installations, they’re causing ripples far beyond the Grand Canal
An independent streak runs through Italy’s 20 regions, reflected in their mish-mash of local flags. Lombardy’s Studio Temp calls for a little visual unity
In the lead-up to Salone del Mobile in Milan, we take a peek at some of the city's sumptuous and often hidden away modernist entrance halls
Over five frenetic years in the 1930s, Francisco Salamone cut a swath across Argentina’s rural east, bringing his own distinctive brand of futurist art deco to all manner of public buildings. While Salamone has been all but forgotten, his extraordinary legacy remains
The eternal city is resting on its laurels, writes Vilnius-based studio New! It’s time to give it a little more direction
The first Zaha Hadid project to be completed since her death is, like much of her best work, both alien and part of the landscape, write Stefano Boeri and Mario Coppola
Death, war, family feuds – the story behind the infamous, enticing hot tub has it all, says John Jervis
The lighting designer’s restaurants – one of which was today named as the world's best – are about darkness as much as illumination
The head of the eponymous mosaic brand explains how it has brought the ancient art into the digital age – with a little help from some star designers
In our latest issue, we look at Milan's Salone del Mobile, and ask whether the city's design industry is trying to reclaim its radical past
Reinvigorated by its alliance with Boffi, the venerable Milanese brand is venturing outside the Italian market
Alfonso Bialetti’s espresso machine was originally a symbol of modernism and empire during Mussolini’s heyday. But its engagingly simple operation and distinctive design have become the epitome of Italian style
In Milan next week, the architect is launching Double Zero, a luxurious dining chair that will be the forerunner to a whole series. For our current issue, we travelled to the Italian brand's factory in Udine to watch him put final touches to his design
It's been a hectic year for the Italian designer. A solo show in Glasgow, new pieces for major brands and curatorial endeavours in London and Milan have revealed him to be not just one of the design world's most prolific operators, but also one of its most original thinkers
Faye Toogood, Issey Miyake, Nathalie Du Pasquier, Coop Himmelb(l)au and Vivienne Westwood are among those who have designed outfits for an exhibition in Milan that speculates about the kind of jobs that we might eventually do
This collection of essays and interviews sheds much-needed light on an era of radical sociopolitical change, says Steve Parnell.
The sleek mahogany yachts made by Italian boatyard Riva in its 1950s and 60s heyday are a high watermark in the relationship between art and luxury. But the world of ostentatious status symbols continues to court that of high culture – and vice versa. Charles Holland made a visit to Riva's base for Icon's August issue.