Italienische BT2 Tischlampen aus Stahl von Studio A.R.D.I.T.I für Sormani Nucleo, 1972, 2er Set

Das italienische Designkollektiv Studio A.R.D.I.T.I. wurde 1970 von Duccio Trassinelli (geb. 1945) in Florenz gegründet. Andere Mitglieder waren Alessandro Mazzoni, Delle Stelle, Elisabetta Scheggi Merlini und für kurze Zeit Gianni Gamberini.

Das Kollektiv trat erstmals in der Anti-Design Bewegung in Erscheinung, als es ihre Publikation „Manifesto Studio A.R.D.I.T.I.” 1970 während der von Umberto Eco geleiteten internationalen Konferenz zu Umwelt Strukturen in Rimini, Italien, vorstellte. Das als politische Satire verfasste Manifest plädierte gegen die kapitalistischen und konsumorientierten Tendenzen, welche in der Nachkriegszeit die Designindustrie dominierten.

Obwohl sie weniger bekannt sind als andere postmoderne Designkollektive, wie beispielsweise Memphis und Alchimia, entwickelte Studio A.R.D.I.T.I. in den 1970er Jahren eine Reihe einflussreicher Designobjekte, welche auf einer neuen Gebrauchsphilosophie beruhten. Unter diesen Designs sind der Memoria Sessel für Cassina (1972), welcher ein per Hand regulierbares Ventil enthält, durch das Luft entlassen werden kann um den Sessel an den Körper der Person, die in ihm sitzt, anzupassen. Der Sessel wurde im selben Jahr auf der Eurodomus ausgestellt und 1973 als Design des Monats von Bolaffi Casa ausgezeichnet.

Studio A.R.D.I.T.I. waren unter den ersten, die mit Niedervolt-Beleuchtung experimentierten. Sie verwendeten diese, um mit Wahrnehmungen von Oberflächen und Räumen zu spielen. Bekannte Beleuchtungsdesigns für Sormani sind beispielsweise die Ponte Lampe (1971), die Prismar Lampe (1972) und die BT Serie (1972), welche die doppelwandige BT1 Wandleuchte, die BT2 Tischlampe mit einem quadratischen Fuß und die BT4 Bodenlampe umfasst.  

Die Gruppe löste sich 1977 auf und alle Mitglieder verfolgten daraufhin separate Karrieren. Viele der Designs von Studio A.R.D.I.T.I. befinden sich in Dauerausstellungen verschiedener Museen weltweit, wie beispielsweise denen des Museum of Modern Art in New York, des Centre Pompidou in Paris und des Vitra Design Museums in Deutschland.

Pioneering Italian furniture manufacturer Sormani was founded in 1961 in Arosio by designer Luigi Sormani (1932-2017). The company was an early advocate for modernized production techniques—rejecting the slow, traditional craftsmanship and hardwoods that were so commonly used in the 1950s in favor of new materials like Rio Rosewood—imported first by Sormani—lacquered wood, and eventually plastic and aluminum in the 1960s and '70s.

Sormani debuted its first collection at the 1961 Milan Furniture Fair. This collection, known as Fleeting by Studio ABC, was one of the first modular systems of wardrobes. In 1966, Sormani began producing thermoformed items, such as armchair shells, accessories, and occasional pieces with the use of molds—a technology derived from the automobile industry that, at the time, was only being used for electrical household appliances. The Nike and Auriga armchairs by Richard Neagle are prime examples.The same year, Sormani became the first to experiment with extruded aluminum with the Ellisse Collection (1967) by Claudio Salocchi. During this time, Sormani also expanded into the US and Japanese markets, where they found instant success. In 1968, Sormani began a collaboration with architect-designer Gio Ponti, which resulted in a range of colorful, modular, multi-purpose storage units.

In the early 1970s, Sormani continued to pride itself on its dedicated search for and analysis of different opportunities offered by the newest materials. With the establishment of an engineering division in the early 1980s, Sormani carried out several turnkey projects, operating on all levels of residential and contract engineering and architecture, including complete restoration and interior decoration of hotels, offices, banks, government buildings, universities, and the like.  

Over the years, Sormani collaborated with many important Italian designers including Joe Colombo, Gio Ponti, Carlo De Carli, Claudio Salocchi, Cesare Casati, Emanuele Ponzio, Nani Prina, Antonello Mosca, Fabrizio Cocchia, Gianni Songia, De Pas, D’Urbino, & Lomazzi, Studio A.R.D.I.T.I., Studio ABC (Achilli, Brigidini, Canella), Richard Neagle, and Pierre Cardin, among others. Standout projects include the GS 195 Daybed by Gianni Songia (1963), the DC 154 Dresser by Carlo De Carli (1963), Joe Colombo’s Rotoliving Unit (1969) for MoMA’s 1972 exhibition Italy: The New Domestic Landscape, and the Ponte Floor Lamp by Studio A.R.D.I.T.I. and Gianni Gamberini (1971).

Sormani was awarded the Silver Printing-Press prize for its advertising campaign in 1970, the Torchio d’Argento for the best advertising campaign with ATA advertising agency, the Mercurio d’oro for best company (both in 1971), and the Delfino d’oro premio Città di Sanremo in 1972. Sormani’s work can be found in many famous museums around the world including New York’s Museum of Modern Art and the National Museum of Modern Art in Kyoto.

After Luigi Sormani was kidnapped in 1982, he directed the company to be more and more active in contract work abroad. Sormani officially stopped working in 2007. His last project was the restoration of a series of light fixtures, tables, and bookshelves that he had rediscovered in a company storage space after two decades. 

Sormani passed away in 2017, at the age of 84, in Seveso, Monza Brianza.

His daughter, Gloria, recently restored some of the most important pieces in the family's collection and reclassified the whole archive, which includes photos, video, and audio reels as well as original drawings from the designers.