Ernesto Gismondi
Italian designer and engineer Gismondi played an important role in progressive design circles. Having undertaken aeronautical and aerospace studies in Milan and Rome, he founded the lighting manufacturing firm Artemide in Milan in 1959 with Sergio Mazza. From 1970 onwards, he designed a number of lights himself, including the Tholos wall lamp, the Zen and Tebe floor lamps. Gismondi helped to grow Artemide to become one of the global forerunners of the lighting industry. Using his experience in aeronautical and aerospace engineering, Gismondi has developed a unique brand of lighting for Artemide that feature sleek, modern designs that remain highly pragmatic. Ernesto Gismondi has helped to establish a new corner of the lighting market that many have tried to rival, but none have surpassed.