GIANFRANCO FRATTINI
Industrial designer Gianfranco Frattini was born in Padua, Italy in 1926. He studied architecture at the Milan Polytechnic, graduating in 1953. During his studies, he served as an apprentice to Gio Ponti, the celebrated Italian architect, industrial and furniture designer. He continued to work for Ponti following his graduation, focusing on industrial design and interiors when he found the lighting and furniture for his interiors lacking.
In 1954, Frattini began collaborating with Cesare Cassina. This partnership was a fruitful one; he produced such celebrated objects as the Lina armchair, the Agnese armchair, the Oliver sofa and the Giulia armchair. In 1956, Frattini co-founded an office in Milan with Franco Bettonica, which they named ADI, the Association for Industrial Design. In this capacity, he designed for Poltrona Frau, Bernini, Lagostina and Bonacina, and continued his work in interiors for the famous Stork Club and the St. Andrews restaurant in Milan.
Over his 50-year career, Frattini became known for his holistic approach; designing every object—from furniture, to lighting, to flatware, in relation to the overall feeling he sought to evoke. His emphasis on detail led him to follow the production process closely, from research and development to the assembly line Frattini was invested in finding the best possible solution. His commitment to each individual material was steadfast; he is remembered remarking: “Always use a material for what it can do; don’t force its nature.” He partnered with well-known brands like Knoll, Acerbis, Fantoni, Artemide, Lema, Arteluce and others. Commissions took him around the world, where he designed interiors for luxury stores and hotels. He also served as a board member for the Triennale di Milano.
Frattini’s work is prized to this day by private collectors, and a number of brands have reissued his most celebrated pieces, among them the Kyoto coffee table and the Albero bookcase. He participated widely in shows and exhibitions, for which he was awarded numerous prizes throughout his career. His glassware is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, and his lighting is on view at the Smithsonian, Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum. Frattini died in Milan in 2004.
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