“Look at usual things with unusual eyes.”Vico MagistrettiVico Magistretti (born October 6, 1920, Milan–died September 19, 2006, Milan) was a highly influential 20th century Italian furniture designer and architect known for his experimental yet remarkably harmonious designs that ranged from diminutive decorative furnishings to elaborate architectural façades. During his career, Magistretti earned numerous awards for his contributions to Italian furniture design and product design during the postwar era.Vico Magistretti was born in Milan, Italy, in 1920 to a family of architects—both his father, Pier Giulio Magistretti, and his grandfather, Gaetano Besia, were well-known architects. He began his studies in architecture at Politecnico di Milano in 1939, but due to World War II, and in order to avoid the draft into the military service, Magistretti interrupted his studies and left for Switzerland in 1943.Magistretti’s designs perfectly balance design and utility, creating a product that values modern simplicity and the crucial functionality that make his designs classics.An example of one of his classic designs is the eclisse table lamp that has a simple bold retro style and is available in three striking colours that have become timeless in the world of interior design. Artemide’s Elisse lamp won him the Compasso d’Oro in 1967, one of the many awards he received during his career. However, Magistretti did not stop there, he has produced lots of innovative ideas that meant he very quickly emerged as one of the most influential designers of the time.