On May 7, the official presentation of the volume with Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli at the ADI Design Museum.
Fondazione ADI Collezione Compasso d’Oro, ADI Associazione per il Disegno Industriale, and ADI Design Museum announce the publication of the volume Compasso d’Oro. ADI Design Museum – Historical Collection, curated by architect and researcher Beppe Finessi and published by Treccani, with graphic design by Leonardo Pertile.
This volume represents the first comprehensive work dedicated to the history of the Compasso d’Oro Award and its Historical Collection—recognized in 2004 by the Ministry of Culture as a “heritage of exceptional historical and artistic interest”—offering a complete and in-depth view of the evolution of Italian design.
Spanning 70 years of creative and industrial production, the book also delves into the cultural, political, and social context that shaped it. It will be available for purchase (€100.00) starting April 4 in all bookshops and at the Treccani bookshop at the ADI Design Museum, where to experience the historical collection featured in the book firsthand.
The presentation event on 7 May at the ADI Design Museum, with the participation of the Minister of Culture, Alessandro Giuli, will be a symbolic occasion to highlight the strategic role of design as a driver of innovation, competitiveness, and cultural identity. Alongside the Minister, speakers will include Luciano Galimberti, President of ADI – the Association for Industrial Design, and Umberto Cabini, President of the ADI Compasso d’Oro Collection Foundation, who will introduce the meaning and value of the initiative in the context of promoting Italian design.
This will be followed by the presentation of the publication, with contributions from Massimo Bray, Director General of Treccani; Beppe Finessi, editor of the publication; Alvise Braga Illa, Chairman of S—iR (Sense – immaterial Reality); and Donatella Sciuto, Rector of the Politecnico di Milano. The event will be moderated by Annachiara Sacchi, journalist for Corriere della Sera and its cultural supplement la Lettura.
The work provides readers with an in-depth overview of the evolution of design across its various expressions, branches, and applications, establishing itself as an essential contribution to the history of Italian design and its institutionalization.
Compasso d’Oro ADI Design Museum. Historical Collection serves as a comprehensive and engaging resource for design enthusiasts, offering a detailed exploration of the historical, economic, and technological innovations that have defined the world of design through this prestigious award.
The catalog showcases the first implementation of the MetaBook concept, transforming a traditional publication into a hybrid physical-digital experience. Developed by S—iR, a Milan-based creative technology studio and the project’s technological partner, the MetaBook merges print with immersive technology.
S—iR has introduced an immersive digital space accessible via QR code, offering an interactive experience that allows users to explore historic Compasso d’Oro winners in 3D and Augmented Reality. By digitising some of the most iconic pieces in the collection – scattered throughout the pages of the volume via individual QR codes – the project reimagines the museum experience—bridging the past and future of design through immersive and advanced technologies.
A Monumental Work
With 1,040 pages, 2,275 images including drawings, projects, and photographs, and over 50 essays, the book—available in both Italian and English—is the result of more than three years of work, culminating in an indispensable text for anyone involved in or passionate about design.
The volume is divided into three sections:
The first explores the role of the ADI Design Museum as a cultural institution and research center, highlighting archives, documentary materials, drawings, models, photographs, and advertisements as storytelling tools.
The second is dedicated to the Albo d’Oro, which compiles all awarded projects from 1954 to 2022, featuring an unprecedented timeline and critical entries for each winner.
The third offers a critical reflection on design as a cultural, economic, and social phenomenon, with contributions analyzing its evolution through relationships with art, philosophy, industry, and innovation.
Enhancing the volume are over fifty essays by industry experts and exclusive interviews with key figures in the design and contemporary museology landscape.