The XXIX edition of the Compasso d'Oro award, founded in 1954 by Gio Ponti and Rinascente, concluded at the ADI Design Museum in Milan. The jury awarded 3 Compassi d'Oro Young, 10 student project recognitions, 38 honorable mentions, and 20 Compasso d'Oro ADI prizes. Winning projects include Array sofa by Snøhetta for MDF Italia, Bilboquet lamp by Philippe Malouin for Flos, D'Antan armchair by Raffaella Mangiarotti for De Padova, and the Salone del Mobile.Milano Annual Report 2024. Career awards were given to nine figures including Giovanni Arvedi, Paola Lenti, and Alberto Meda, while three iconic products—Sedia '64 by AG Fronzoni, Tavolo Eros by Angelo Mangiarotti, and Tavolo con ruote by Gae Aulenti—received career Compassi d'Oro. The exhibition of all nominated projects runs until June 4, 2026.
This edition matters because it reflects how Italian design is evolving from isolated objects toward complex systems integrating technology, sustainability, and social responsibility. ADI president Luciano Galimberti emphasized that the Compasso d'Oro has consistently anticipated modernity, positioning design as a critical tool for interpreting contemporary complexity. The awards signal a shift where design is no longer merely formal exercise but a cultural and productive device addressing ecological, technological, and geopolitical transformations.