Mario Bellini (born 1935 in Milan, Italy) graduated with a degree in architecture from the Milan Polytechnic in 1959 and set up practice as an architect in the early 1960s.  His work ranges from urban design and architecture to furnishings and industrial products.  He has won the prestigious Compasso d'Oro eight times and his work is exhibited in numerous museum collections around the world including the Museum of Modern Art, New York that currently features over twenty of his objects in its permanent collection.  In 1987, MOMA created the first comprehensive retrospective of Bellini's work. His architectural work is prolific and includes the Portello buildings for the Milan Fair, the conference center of Villa Erba at Como, the extension of the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne and the International Fair of Essen.  From 1986 to 1991, he was director of Domus magazine. Bellini has created designs for numerous manufacturers including Acerbis, Artemide, B&B Italia, Bras, Driade, Candy, Cassina, Castilia, Erco, Fiat, Flou, Flos, Fuji, Heller, Ideal Standard, Kartell, Lamy, Lancia, Marcatrè, Meritalia, Natuzzi, Poltrona Frau, Rosenthal, Tacchini, Vitra, and Zojtrushi.