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Knoll Designer Bios

Sergio Asti

b. Italy, 1926

An influential Italian architect, industrial designer and interior designer, Sergio Asti established his own studio in Milan in 1953, the same year he graduated from the Politecnico di Milano. From his studio Asti cast a broad creative net, designing furniture, lighting, glassware, wood products, ceramics, electrical appliances, interiors, stores, and exhibitions for a wide variety of European and international companies.

In 1956, he became a founding member of ADI (Associazione per il Disegno Industriale), an association that brings together professionals, researchers, teachers, critics and journalists from around the world to promote and implement the most conducive conditions for the design of goods. Asti’s work has been exhibited widely, including at The Museum of Modern Art in New York.

As Italian design surged in popularity worldwide in the 1970s, Knoll (having acquired the Italian design company Gavina SpA) used its growing presence in Italy to attract other Italian designers to the company. In 1972, Knoll collaborated with Sergio Asti to introduce the Asti Collection, which included a lamp and several glass and marble bowls and vases.