Perry King & Santiago Miranda — International Design Between Function and Poetry
Perry King & Santiago Miranda (studio active since 1976)
Perry King and Santiago Miranda form one of the most original and long-lasting creative partnerships in international design. United by a common vision that blends functional rigor and poetic sensibility, the two designers left a profound mark on the Italian and European design landscape of the 1980s and 1990s.
Perry King
Born in Birmingham in 1938, Perry King trained at the Birmingham School of Art and moved to Italy in the 1960s, where he came into contact with the creative ferment of Milanese design. He collaborated with Olivetti under the direction of Ettore Sottsass, contributing to the design of some of the company's most iconic typewriters and calculators. This experience profoundly shaped his approach to design: attention to the human-machine interface, care for detail, and sensitivity to color.
Santiago Miranda
Born in Seville in 1947, Santiago Miranda moved to Milan in the 1970s, where he met Perry King. His Spanish background brought a Mediterranean sensibility and a propensity for organic forms and warm colors to the partnership, perfectly balancing King's Anglo-Saxon rigor.
The King & Miranda studio
Founded in Milan in 1976, the King & Miranda Design studio quickly became a benchmark in European design. Their collaborations ranged from lighting to consumer electronics, from industrial design to furniture, with clients such as Arteluce, Flos, Olivetti, Bosch, and Ideal Standard.
The Triana lamp for Arteluce
Among the most significant pieces of their production is the Triana floor lamp (1985), created for Arteluce — a historic Italian lighting manufacturer founded by Gino Sarfatti. The Triana is a masterful example of functional design elevated to sculpture: lacquered metal structure, adjustable lampshade, elegant proportions that adapt to any environment. The name is a tribute to the famous district of Seville, Miranda's hometown.
Awards
King & Miranda have received numerous international awards, including the Compasso d'Oro. Their works are held in museum collections in Europe and the United States.
The Legacy
Perry King and Santiago Miranda represent the best of international design that chose Milan as its creative base — a tradition that has made the city the world capital of design. Their original pieces from the 1980s are highly valued today by collectors for their construction quality and historical significance.
