Vico Magistretti

Vico Magistretti (1920–2006) was one of the leading figures of Italian post-war design. Trained as an architect in Milan, he developed a design language based on rational thinking, technical clarity and pure geometric form.

His collaboration with Oluce produced some of the most iconic lighting designs of the 20th century. Magistretti approached lighting as an architectural problem, reducing each object to its essential structure while maintaining a strong sense of balance and proportion.

In 1977, he designed the Atollo table lamp for Oluce. Its composition of a cylinder, cone and hemisphere represents a near-ideal synthesis of geometry, function and visual harmony. Atollo was awarded the Compasso d’Oro in 1979 and has since become one of the most recognisable icons of Italian design.

Closely related in form is the Sonora lamp, introduced slightly earlier. The hemispherical shade of Sonora follows the same geometric logic as Atollo, but translated into a suspended light source. Rather than designing a completely new form, Magistretti refined and recontextualised the same volumetric language, adapting it from a table lamp to a pendant.

Together, Atollo and Sonora clearly illustrate Magistretti’s method: not the pursuit of novelty, but the careful development of a form until it reaches maximum clarity, versatility and timelessness.

Beyond individual icons such as Atollo and Sonora, Vico Magistretti played a central role in shaping the identity of Oluce over several decades. For many years he acted as art director and chief designer of the company, leaving a coherent and instantly recognisable imprint on its collections.

During this period, Magistretti designed a wide range of lamps that explored different applications of light while remaining consistent in language and intent. Models such as Kuta, Lester, Nara, Idomeneo, Pascal, Dim, Snow and others each addressed specific functional needs, yet shared the same principles of clarity, proportion and controlled illumination.

Atollo, in particular, became a kind of archetype: a graphic silhouette so reduced and balanced that it came to symbolise the very idea of a “lamp”. This approach—refining a form until it reaches maximum expressive and functional clarity—characterises much of Magistretti’s work for Oluce and explains its lasting relevance.

Interview with Vico Magistretti in Italian – Magistretti e l’Italian Design

Oluce – O-Luce

The Italian lighting company Oluce was founded in 1945 by Giuseppe Ostuni. It is widely regarded as the oldest Italian design company in the lighting sector still in operation today. From the very beginning, Oluce positioned itself at the intersection of industrial innovation, architectural thinking and high-quality craftsmanship.

During the post-war years, Oluce played a key role in shaping modern Italian lighting design. The company became known for its willingness to experiment with new materials, advanced production techniques and progressive forms, often anticipating broader developments in modern and contemporary design.

One of the defining moments in the history of Oluce was its long-standing collaboration with Joe Colombo, whose radical and futuristic designs perfectly matched the company’s experimental spirit. Iconic models such as the Spider lamp (1965), which won the Compasso d’Oro in 1967, and the Coupé lamp (1967), later designed by Joe Colombo and refined by Alberto Meda, became international design classics and remain in production to this day.

Another crucial figure in Oluce’s history is Vico Magistretti, whose work for the company resulted in some of its most enduring and recognisable designs. Lamps such as the Atollo (1977), awarded the Compasso d’Oro in 1979, have become timeless icons of Italian design and are today part of the permanent collections of major international museums.

Over the decades, Oluce collaborated with an impressive roster of renowned designers and architects. Among them are Angelo Ostuni, Achille, Livio and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Franco Buzzi, Joe and Gianni Colombo, Marco Zanuso, Tito Agnoli, Angeletti & Ruzza, Antonia Astori & Nicola De Ponti, Bruno Gecchelin, Stefano Casciani, Francesco Rota, Victor Vasilev, Ferdi Giardini and many others.

Oluce has received numerous international design awards over the years, including several Compasso d’Oro awards, confirming its central role in the history of Italian and international lighting design.

Throughout its history, Oluce has consistently balanced innovation with continuity, maintaining a strong connection to its design heritage while continuing to work with contemporary designers. This approach has ensured the lasting relevance of the brand within the international design landscape.

For a complete overview of the company’s current collections and official history, see the Oluce website.