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Alessandro Mendini, the legendary Italian designer, architect, and critic, is the subject of a bold new monograph by Phaidon titled Alessandro Mendini: Imagination Takes Command. Known for his playful, avant-garde take on aesthetics, Mendini helped shape the worlds of radical design and postmodernism through a body of work that blurred the boundaries between art, function, and fantasy. Now, in a richly illustrated book authored by Stefano Casciani—his longtime friend and collaborator—readers are invited into the vibrant, unconventional universe Mendini built over decades.
The monograph dives deep into his most iconic collaborations with brands like Alessi, Hermès, Supreme, and Swarovski, while also chronicling his influential role as editor of Domus. Alongside essays and analysis, the volume includes unpublished sketches, photographs, and design artifacts that highlight Mendini’s ability to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.
True to its subject, the book itself is a work of art—bound in pink cloth, featuring die-cut chapter openings, and referencing his iconic Proust armchair, a symbol of his philosophy where imagination, humor, and transgressioncome before convention. A collector’s item and visual treasure, Imagination Takes Command doesn’t just document Mendini’s legacy—it celebrates the freedom to design without boundaries.
Photos: Phaidon