Gianfranco Frattini was born in Padua, Italy on May 15th, 1926. He graduated with a degree in Architecture from the Politecnico di Milano in 1953. Gianfranco Frattini founded his own professional practice in Milan, after having worked in the office of his teacher and mentor Giò Ponti. Gianfranco Frattini became an industrial designer by default when he needed appropriate lighting and furniture for his interiors. His collaboration with Cesare Cassina for his namesake company started in 1954, followed by collaborations with many other manufacturers, including; Bernini, Acerbis, Fantoni and Artemide, for whom he designed the historic Boalum lamp with Livio Castiglioni. In 1956 he co-founded Associazione per il Disegno Industriale and throughout his career he practiced both industrial design and Architecture, focusing mostly on interiors. He was a board member of the Triennale. Great connoisseur of wood craftsmanship, he forged a long and fruitful professional partnership with the master craftsman from Bovisio Masciago (Milan), Pierluigi Ghianda. Gianfranco Frattini won numerous professional awards and prizes, including the prestigious Compasso d'Oro. Gianfranco Frattini died in Milan, Italy on April 6th, 2004.
