Top 20 architects-turned-product designers I

Antonio Citterio: The master multi-tasker is art director of B&B Italia’s Maxalto collection.

(Image credit: press)

last updated 7 October 2022

Architects have long turned their hand to product design – from David Adjaye to David Chipperfield and Zaha Hadid – these A-listers have all occasionally thought small in scale and occasionally wiggly. (Yes, Frank Gehry, we’re looking at you!)

To mark our 200th issue, we decided to double our Power 100 into a meaty, two-ton Power 200; an upscaled calibration of design achievement. Or rather 100+100 (normal disservice will be resumed next year) – including the top 20 architects to turn their pencils to product design.

Rising in the ranks are the likes of master multi-tasker Antonio Citterio, great British minimalist John Pawson and the monochromatically stylish Richard Meier. Daniel Libeskind, Isay Weinfeld, Shigeru Ban and Toyo Ito feature prominently as well, pushing the boundaries of product and material ever further. There are also illuminaries like Nigel Coates, Jean Nouvel, Mario Bellini, Renzo Piano and Rem Koolhaas/OMA who have and pretty much done it all. While collaboration isn’t a requirement, many have turned their talents to similar brands, including legendary Italian brand Alessi which counts Peter Zumthor, SANAA, Norman Foster, Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas among their stylish ranks.

Let the debate begin...

See the Power 200 in full here

**David Adjaye:** An increasingly in-demand designer, Adjaye has collaborated with Knoll, Moroso and Kvadrat.

**Daniel Libeskind:** Clients at the firm’s dedicated product division include Moroso, pictured here, Poltrona Frau and Lasvit.

**David Chipperfield:** Chipperfield is artistic director of Driade, and has designed for Artemide, Alessi and E15.

Gehry with a model of New York by Gehry from W*153 — **Frank Gehry:** Gehry’s cardboard ‘Wiggle’ side chair and stool designs for Vitra are now iconic.

**Isay Weinfeld:** The Domino line for Geiger is his first furniture collaboration with a US company, pictured here

The architect in his Paris home in the 8th arrondissement, July 2014. — **Jean Nouvel:** Jean Nouvel Design has worked with Ligne Roset, Emeco, Molteni & C and Artemide.

A portrait of Pawson from our 2010 October issue (see W*139) — **John Pawson:** The British minimalist applies the same purity to product design as architecture.

'Cab' chair by Mario Bellini, from the Cassina I Contemporanei Collection — **Mario Bellini:** From architecture and art to MOMA-collected design, Bellini has done it all.

**Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas:** The couple have worked for Poltrona Frau, Alessi (pictured) and Venini

‘Scarabei/Scaradei’ dinner service by Nigel Coates and Richard Ginori for Wallpaper* Handmade 2015 — **Nigel Coates:** A prolific designer, Coates has turned his hand to lighting and furniture.

Molteni's 'Teso' table — **Norman Foster:** Molteni, Walter Knoll, Artemide and Alessi are just a handful of the architect’s design partners.

**Peter Zumthor:** Zumthor’s wooden salt and pepper mills for Alessi are timeless classics we can all own, pictured

The architect and his Knoll counter. Photography: A Osio. — **Rem Koolhaas/OMA:** Occasional but striking forays into product design include a collection for Knoll.

Piano-designed bookcase — **Renzo Piano:** Riva 1920 and Iittala have both tapped Italian architect Piano for his design talents.

Portrait of Meier from our 2014 April issue, W*187 — **Richard Meier:** Meier’s monochromatic style and clean lines translate well into industrial design.

**SANAA:** Collaborations with Alessi range from a wristwatch to tabletop and serving accessories, pictured

Customisable wall system for Hermès — **Shigeru Ban:** The Japanese architect is known for his masterful work with wood, paper and cardboard.

'Konoha' bench, for Sancal — **Toyo Ito:** Ito has been experimenting with materials in product and furniture design since 1987.

Liquid Glacial Collection at David Gill Gallery — **Zaha Hadid:** Hadid created her own gallery to house her practice’s growing design portfolio.

INFORMATION
See the Power 200 in full

Rosa Bertoli was born in Udine, Italy, and now lives in London. Since 2014, she has been the Design Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees design content for the print and online editions, as well as special editorial projects. Through her role at Wallpaper*, she has written extensively about all areas of design. Rosa has been speaker and moderator for various design talks and conferences including London Craft Week, Maison & Objet, The Italian Cultural Institute (London), Clippings, Zaha Hadid Design, Kartell and Frieze Art Fair. Rosa has been on judging panels for the Chart Architecture Award, the Dutch Design Awards and the DesignGuild Marks. She has written for numerous English and Italian language publications, and worked as a content and communication consultant for fashion and design brands.