Five Stars

Amid the constellation of contemporary home furnishings at the most recent Salone del Mobile—the massive international design showcase held each spring in Milan—five names seemed to shine brightest. Spain’s Patricia Urquiola; Jean-Marie Massaud, of France; the Italians Antonio Citterio, Carlo Colombo, and Piero Lissoni—all debuted compelling creations, in categories ranging from furniture and kitchens to lighting and tabletop, that they conceived for producers of upscale wares. If these designers stole the show’s spotlight from their manufacturer partners, surely the companies did not mind; their shared results, after all, are brilliant. 

A number of the designers’ new products grace the following pages, as do examples of their past works, which promise not to fade from view. The luminaries and their colleagues also share insights on the elements of their styles, the pieces that launched their careers, and what they are working on now.