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Design in Italia: The making of an industry by Stefano Casciani follows the career paths of the movers and shakers of the design world in a detailed historical analysis from the fifties to today. The modern and contemporary furnishing industry of Italy represents a unique paradigm, on account of its industrial design production created by the most important international architects and designers of the 20th and 21st centuries. While reams have been written about Italian architects and designers, until now no volume has ever been dedicated to those who contributed to the success of these designers. "Backstage" takes a behind-the-scenes look at the entrepreneurs who deftly invented the most important phenomenon of modern and contemporary furnishing. The protagonists are also depicted in striking black-and-white portraits by the Norwegian photographer Tom Sandberg. From the Luisa chair by Poggi to the Thinking Man's chair by Cappellini, from the Tizio lamp by Artemide to the Glo-ball by Flos, the text discusses the past and present of the various entrepreneurial histories and the development of the culture of Italian design.