Achille Castiglioni (1918 - 2002) was born in Milan and graduated from Politecnico di Milano University with a degree in architecture in the late 1930s. Shortly thereafter, he set up a design office with his brothers Livio and Pier Giacomo in Milan where he dedicated himself to experimenting with industrial products. Achille, along with his brothers, went on to become one of the most renowned industrial designers in post-war Italy. His works are included in the permanent collections of museums worldwide, including fourteen pieces within New York's Museum of Modern Art. The designer has won nine Compasso d′Oro awards, including a special mention in 1989 as an individual dedicated to industrial design who, by means of his incomparable experience, "elevated industrial design to the highest levels of culture." In his lifetime, he designed and collaborated on nearly 150 objects, many of which are still in production today by Alessi, DePadova, Flos, Poltrona Frau, Tacchini, and Zanotta.