Giancarlo Fassina

Background

Giancarlo Fassina (Milan 1935 – Milan 2019) graduated in architecture from the Milan Polytechnic and soon specialised in lighting fixture design. Light became his profession in all its forms and expressions.

Signature Style

Fassina was known for his care for every detail of a luminaire, extending to the study of shadows, camera angles and exposures. His strength lay in the technical side of lighting: Artemide credits him with the technical support behind Enzo Mari's best-selling Aggregato system (1976).

Notable Works

• Tolomeo for Artemide with Michele De Lucchi (launched 1987), a balanced-arm lamp with springs hidden inside its aluminium arms
• The Tolomeo family: Micro, Mini, Midi, Mega, Basculante, floor, wall and Pinza versions
• Aggregato for Artemide (technical support, with Enzo Mari)

Legacy

Together with De Lucchi, Fassina received the Compasso d'Oro in 1989 for Tolomeo, which Artemide describes as a symbol of made-in-Italy design found in homes and workplaces around the world. Over his career he collaborated with many lighting companies and created installations for exhibitions and museums.