Alessandro Mendini (16 August 1931, Milan Italy), graduated from the Politecnico of Milano in 1959. Mendini worked until 1970 for the architectural company Nissoli Associati. From 1970 to 1976, he was chief editor at Casabella, innovating the magazine and orientating it towards the Radicals. In 1973, he was a founding member of ‘Global Tools’.
In 1977, he founded the magazine Modo, of which he was chief editor until 1981, and in which he carried on his research on architecture and design. His theories on 'banal design', to be opposed to functional and rational design, continue since the Radical years to his experience as the editor of Domus (1979-85) and his particpation in ‘Alchimia’ with exhibitions and performances.
In 1979, Mendini's was awarded the "Compasso d'oro" for his activity as a designer. In 1981, he realised 'Mobile Infinito', an exhibition set up with Alchimia, and held at the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Milan. On that occasion,
he invited thirty designers, architects and artists (among which Branzi, Sottsass and Giò Ponti) to design furniture components to be assembled, and plan living environments. From 1979 to 1988, Mendini collaborated with firms such as Alessi, Driade, Poltronova, Abet, Artemide, Zanotta and Swatch International. Towards the end of the Eighties he took up again his activity as an architect, and also realised paintings and sculptures.
Since 1988, he has been the chief editor of the magazine Ollo. Rivista senza messaggio, which mixes images of architecture and design with advertisements, without any definite boundaries. In 1989, he set up the 'Atelier Mendini'
with his brother Francesco. source: http://www.giannipettena.it/biography/radicals/alessandromendini/
