Paolo Orlandini & Roberto Lucci — Functional Design and Iconic 70s Accessories
Paolo Orlandini & Roberto Lucci (studio active since 1968)
Paolo Orlandini and Roberto Lucci form one of the most active and prolific design studios in 1970s and 1980s Italy. Their design approach stands out for an extraordinary ability to combine rigorous functionality, technological innovation, and aesthetic quality—characteristics that make them privileged partners for some of the most important manufacturers in Italian design.
The origins of the studio
Both Milan-trained, Orlandini and Lucci founded their studio in Milan at the end of the 1960s, at a time of great ferment for Italian design. The city was then the global center of industrial design, and their studio integrated into this creative ecosystem with a clear design proposal: beautiful objects because they are functional, functional because they are well-conceived.
The design method
The distinctive feature of Orlandini and Lucci is their ability to work on very different scales—from small accessories to complex furniture systems—always maintaining the same methodological consistency. Each project begins with an in-depth analysis of user behavior and translates into formal solutions that seem obvious in retrospect but require sophisticated research.
Collaborations
Throughout their careers, Orlandini and Lucci collaborated with numerous Italian and international manufacturers, including Velca, Kartell, Elco, and Bieffeplast. With Velca—a company specializing in furniture complements and accessories—they created some of their most characteristic pieces, including the famous VIP coat rack and umbrella stand (1970).
The VIP coat rack for Velca
The VIP is a piece that perfectly synthesizes Orlandini and Lucci's design philosophy: an everyday object transformed into a piece of furniture with its own formal dignity. The chrome-plated metal structure, balanced proportions, and multiple functionality—coat rack and umbrella stand in one piece—make it a classic of 1970s Italian design, still perfectly relevant today.
Awards
Orlandini and Lucci have received numerous international awards for the quality and consistency of their production. Their pieces are featured in design collections in Italy and abroad.
The legacy
Paolo Orlandini and Roberto Lucci represent that tradition of Italian design that does not seek provocation for its own sake but works with patience and rigor to improve the quality of daily life through well-designed objects. Their original pieces from the 1970s are now appreciated by collectors for their construction quality and discreet elegance.
