An award-wining designer and architect, Alessandro Mendini has played a key role in the evolving international design landscape with pieces like the Proust Armchair and the Groninger Museum in the Netherlands. Constantly exploring the dialogue between different cultures and forms of expression and seeking to reassert values which he considers have been lost to commercialism, he is extremely respected in his field. He has also worked with high-profile brands like Hermès, Cartier and Swarovski. His brother, Francesco is also an architect.