Mario Bellini was born on February 1, 1935 in Milan, Italy. He graduated in architecture from the Politecnico di Milano in 1959 and soon established himself as one of the leading figures of Italian design during the postwar design boom. Early in his career he worked closely with Olivetti, designing groundbreaking office equipment and electronics including the Programma 101, often considered one of the first personal computers. His early work demonstrated a unique ability to merge advanced technology with refined form and human-centered design.
Over the course of a career spanning more than six decades, Bellini has designed furniture, electronics, architecture, and interiors for many of the world’s leading brands including B&B Italia, Cassina, Vitra, Yamaha, Renault, Kartell, and Flos. His work is recognized for its sculptural quality, technological innovation, and timeless elegance. Bellini has received numerous international honors including eight Compasso d’Oro awards, and more than twenty of his works are part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, which also dedicated a retrospective exhibition to his work.
