"In Magis' design department there is no boss, it' s a team, and I believe a lot in creative collaboration," says Eugenio Perazza. This progressive philosophy underlies the Italian furniture manufacturer Magis, which Perazza founded 44 years ago in Motta di Livenza, Venice. Perazza has always respected and supported the region as a location and the long tradition of local handicraft businesses - but at the same time managed to give Magis an international orientation. His open eye for creative, original and progressive design, the passion for the company and the courage to experiment with new technological approaches and materials led Magis to worldwide success. This also includes creative and long-standing collaboration with design talents such as Konstantin Grcic, Jasper Morrison, Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec or Jerszy Seymour, who are seen as part of the family in keeping with the warm atmosphere at Magis.

"Eugenio Perazza – This force of nature has succeeded in introducing a culture of high-end design in an area customarily faithful to the tenets of tradition, overcoming conventionalism, scepticism, and resistance towards new methods, technologies and experiences, in order to make use of all facets of design culture. In all his choices he takes special care to respect and uphold local experience, while constantly fostering an international outlook that steps away from nostalgia and provincialism", said the jury of the XXVI ADI Compasso d'Oro. The prestigious Italian industrial design prize Compasso d'Oro ADI Award is one of the most important awards in the design world and has been presented by I'Associazione Disegno Industriale since 1964. (am)