Speakers 2012

Patricia Urquiola (b. 1961 in Oviedo) studied Architecture at UP Madrid and Politecnico di Milano, where she was a student of Achille Castiglioni, graduating in 1989. From 1990 to 1992 she worked as an assistant to Achille Castiglioni and Eugenio Bettinelli. From 1990 to 1996 she oversaw the product development office for De Padova, collaborating with Vico Magistretti. In 1996, she coordinated the design team of Lissoni Associati. In 2001, she opened her own firm, active in design, installation and architecture. Her most recent architectural projects include the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Barcelona and W Retreat & Spa in Vieques, Puerto Rico; showrooms and installations for Hermès, Gianvito Rossi, Flos, Moroso, and H&M, and concepts for Pitti Immagine in Florence. She creates designs for leading Italian and international firms such as Agape, Alessi, Andreu World, Artelano, Axor, B&B Italia, Champagne Ruinart, San Lorenzo, Tronconi, and Viccarbe. She is a consultant for Honda and LG. Many of her products are exhibited in the permanent collections of MoMA in New York and other museums. She has won many international prizes, such as the Medalla de Oro al Mérito en las Bellas Artes 2010, awarded by the Spanish government in 2011, and was named Designer of the Year in 2012 by the German magazine A&W.