Catalogue of the Historical Collection

Edited by Beppe Finessi | Published by Treccani | Graphic design by Leonardo Pertile

With its 1,040 pages per edition (available in both Italian and English), 2,275 images, 57 essays, 4 institutional texts and 2 interviews, Compasso d’Oro. ADI Design Museum – Collezione Storica is the most comprehensive editorial work ever dedicated to the history of the Compasso d’Oro Award and its Historical Collection, recognized by the Italian Ministry of Culture as a “heritage of exceptional historical and artistic interest.”

The volume is structured into three main sections, offering a comprehensive narrative of Italian design through the lens of the Compasso d’Oro

1. The Museum and the Cultural Context
Thirty essays explore the history of Italian design, the types of materials exhibited in the museum, and the role of the ADI Design Museum as a cultural institution and research center. Written by scholars, critics and curators, these contributions address themes such as craftsmanship, graphic design, photography, magazines, applied arts, the relationship between art and design, industrial production, and the value of archival materials.

2. Albo d’Oro 1954–2022
The core of the volume is dedicated to all editions of the Compasso d’Oro, documented through a chronological structure enriched by an original timeline and critical entries for each awarded project. This section is complemented by 29 thematic insights, each accompanied by a critical text. Taken as a whole, the Albo d’Oro does not merely record the awarded projects, but positions the Compasso d’Oro as a historical and cultural lens through which to interpret the evolution of Italian design.

3. New Readings and Perspectives
Twenty-one essays offer original perspectives on cross-cutting and innovative themes: from service design to tactile interaction with objects, from the relationship between art and industry to the strategic role of design in fostering competitiveness. The volume concludes with reflections on the future of the Compasso d’Oro, interviews with Paola Antonelli and Mirko Zardini on the identity of museum institutions, and a special section dedicated to the museum’s inaugural exhibition Uno a uno. La specie degli oggetti.

The catalogue enhances the reading experience through the MetaBook, an immersive digital extension developed in collaboration with S—iR (Sense – immaterial Reality). Integrated QR codes allow access to three-dimensional models and augmented reality content, offering a dynamic and interactive way to explore selected award-winning projects. This synergy between editorial content and digital technology expands the boundaries of the traditional book and proposes a new mode of engagement with the Historical Collection.

For more information:

Press Office – ADI (Association for Industrial Design) / ADI Design Museum
press@adi-design.org | www.adi-design.org
press@adidesignmuseum.org | https://www.adidesignmuseum.org/
Phone: +39 348 5337220

Treccani Press Office
Grazia Lotti Public Relations
info@grazialotti.com
Phone: +39 02 6575103

Treccani Bookshop / ADI Design Museum
Open daily 10:30 AM – 8:00 PM (closed on Fridays)
Phone: +39 375 6592476