Gino Colombini

Gino Colombini

Born in 1915, the Italian designer and architect Gino Colombini is wildly regarded as a revolutionary designer of those small, low-cost objects of everyday life. After working a period working Franco Albini's studio in 1953 Gino Colombini took over the technical management at Kartell in which context he designed a variety of household objects. In contrast to the rather colourless and lifeless everyday objects of the period, Colombini's designs, including a lemon press, a carpet beater, salad bowls and plastic wash basins, were produced in bright colours, and had a character all of their own. Gino Colombini's designs not only decisively influenced the Kartell brand, but also symbolise the design and consumer culture of the 1950s, while his umbrella stand has developed into a genuine design classic, and today can be found in lobbies, offices, and private apartments. Indestructible, simple and available in a wide range of colours, the umbrella stand also neatly doubles up as a paper basket.