A Point of Inspiration
As the subject of a new book titled architect shares his thoughts about the world of modern design
t’s a strange book,” is how Italian architect Giulio Cappellini describes Francesca Serrazanetti’s The Cappellini Method: A Performing Dream. Indeed, it is a striking thing to look at: a hard-bound volume with a white question mark emblazoned on the front in contrast with a vivid red cover.
It is, perhaps, a visual match to the man whose work and insights are contained within. The art director of Cappellini SpA exudes a patrician elegance with his appearance as he is a tall, lean man with a stern, quintessentially Italian face, and a no-nonsense demeanour. In conversation, however, he has a merry laugh that belies firmly held opinions and progressive views regarding the current state of the global design field and its possible future.
“People have been asking for many years if they could do a book about me,” he says with a wry chuckle. “But I would say, ‘No, I’m still alive! Why would you even want to write a book about me?’ Then, I thought: why not do a book that not only celebrates Cappellini [as one of the world’s leading design brands], but also gives me a chance to talk about the wonderful meetings with the fantastic people—artists, architects, and designers— whom I’ve met throughout my life?”
And it has been quite a life. The son of company founder Enrico Cappellini was born in Milan in 1954 and joined the family furniture business in 1977 at the age of 31. Since then, he has personally handled the development and promotion of Cappellini’s brand image which has led to its growth from a small family firm into one of the most prominent companies in the field of international furniture and interior design. He is also seen as one of international design’s leading talent scouts, as he helped propel the careers of the likes of Jasper Morrison, brothers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, Tom Dixon, Marc Newson, and Piero Lussoni to the forefront of the industry. Indeed, it has been said of Cappellini that many young designers have met him at the airport in Milan with nothing