Francesco Binfaré was awarded the Compasso d’Oro Career Prize. The award is assigned by the Associazione per il Disegno Industriale (ADI - Association for Industrial Design) and the ADI Foundation to the undisputed leaders of design culture. The award ceremony took place on Monday, 20 June, at the ADI Design Museum in Milan. With his work and his passion, Binfaré has made an important and essential contribution to Italian design. The Compasso d’Oro Award, now in its 27th edition, is one of the most prestigious and coveted international prizes. Based on the selection by the Permanent Observatory of Design, the jury identifies Italian personalities, companies and institutions - or operating mainly in Italy - that have distinguished themselves in the fields of research, planning, teaching, production or distribution. Edra is proud of the relationship that, for more than thirty years, has bound the company to Francesco Binfaré, creator of models that have marked the history of creativity, such as Flap, Standard, Pack, On the Rocks, Grande Soffice, Standalto and Chiara. This year, Edra is dedicating a volume published by Mandragora to the artist. Together with ANSA journalist Giampaolo Grassi, Binfaré collected memories, thoughts and reflections, telling his extraordinary professional story and reflecting on the intertwining of art, life and profession: “Drawing and colouring was the beginning, as is the case for all children,” recalls Binfaré. “It was wartime. On the verge of puberty, perhaps when I was ten or eleven years old, I copied the large Christ in the apse of the parish church of Bollate and managed to get the colour of the flesh right with five Giotto coloured pencils. My innocence was thunderstruck and wondered what I should do in life with such a gift from heaven. To my surprise, my innocence replied: Live.”

Silvana Annicchiarico Architect, lives in Milan and works as a researcher, critic and teacher. She is consultant for public organisations and private companies. In the exhibitions and publications she is involved in, she deals with contemporary issues, the works of the great masters and the new names of design. From 2007 to 2018, she was Director of the Triennale Design Museum at Triennale Milano.