Lifetime Achievement Photography

ADI Design Museum presents the exhibition Lifetime Achievement Photography. A Tribute by Italian photography to the masters of the Compasso d'Oro, a curatorial project by Giovanni Chiaramonte and Michele Nastasi. The show features a collection of 151 poster-format images, a reflection of contemporary Italian photography.

Following the success of the previous edition dedicated to graphic design, this time the spotlight is on photography, offering an original interpretation of the Compasso d’Oro Career Award recipients. The exhibition serves as an opportunity to reflect on the relationship between design and photography—a dialogue that goes beyond the purely functional use of images and has contributed to the success of design products and the development of a distinct “design photography” culture.

At the core of the project is historical research carried out by the curators, Giovanni Chiaramonte and Michele Nastasi, which has brought to light the limited visibility given to photography in relation to design from the 1950s to the present—despite its importance and pervasive role in shaping the imagery of Italian design.

“The need for dialogue between disciplines,” states Luciano Galimberti, President of ADI – Associazione per il Disegno Industriale, “is a cornerstone of the operational method of Italian design. Too often, this practice is neglected in a self-referential process that risks distancing us from the values the world recognizes in Italian design.”

This historical research guided the curators in pairing contemporary photographers with six great photographers from the past, each of whom approached design from unique perspectives, helping to define its image and narrate its context. Each invited participant has interpreted this "tribute" with complete creative freedom, producing snapshots of the protagonists of Italian design and offering a broader view of the current state of Italian photography.

The exhibition is not only a tribute by contemporary photographers to the Compasso d’Oro laureates, but also a reflection on photography itself—a recognition of the uniqueness, complexity, and excellence of the photographic field that has evolved over time in relation to Italian design.

In line with the previous edition and with ADI’s mission to preserve and promote living memory, this new edition also offers a participatory experience, allowing each visitor to take home their favorite poster.