Italian Design and the Compasso d'Oro – ADI Awards

This exhibition, jointly presented by the stituto Italiano di Cultura in Vancouver and the Charles H. Scott Gallery, presents a rare collection of objects and images that witness the continuous evolution of Italian industrial design from the early 1950s to the present.

The origins of Italian contemporary industrial design may be traced to the post-war years. In 1954 the Tenth Milan Triennial presented the first international exhibition on industrial design, an event which has come to be regarded as the manifesto of Italian design. In that same year the magazine, Stile Industria was born and the Award, Premio La Rinascente Compasso d’Oro was first established. The Compasso d’Oro was intended to promote the cultural value of merchandise. It supported the growth of industry, while contributing to the evolution of material culture.

In 1956 a group of architects, entrepreneurs and critics organised the Associazione per il Design Industriale (ADI), with the purpose of creating a hub for cultural debate among industrial design. In the years that followed, ADI joined many well-known companies such as Olivetti, La Rinascente Department Stores, Pirelli, Fiat, Pininfarina and Zanussi in the management of the Compasso d’Oro Award. Through the years there have been more than 300 awards for excellence and over 1,500 honourable mentions. The exhibition showcases some of the most important Awards along with iconographic materials, research texts and a wide range of award-winning objects.

The exhibition currently touring in North America is organised and curated by Galleria del Design e dell’Arredamento di Cantù, ADI-Associazione per il Design industriale, CLAC-Centro Legno Arredo Cantu and Politecnico di Milano – Corso di Laurea in Disegno Industriale. Under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy and the Consulate General of Italy in Vancouver, with the assistance of the Italian Chamber of Commerce of British Columbia.