Perry King & Santiago Miranda — International Design Between Function and Poetry
Perry King & Santiago Miranda (studio active since 1976)
Perry King and Santiago Miranda form one of the most original and long-standing creative partnerships in international design. United by a shared vision that blends functionalist rigor with poetic sensibility, the two designers left a profound mark on the Italian and European design landscape of the 1980s and 90s.
Perry King
Born in Birmingham in 1938, Perry King trained at the Birmingham School of Art and moved to Italy in the 1960s, where he came into contact with the creative ferment of Milanese design. He collaborated with Olivetti under the direction of Ettore Sottsass, contributing to the design of some of the company's most iconic typewriters and calculators. This experience deeply marked his approach to design: attention to the human-machine interface, care for detail, and a sensitivity to color.
Santiago Miranda
Born in Seville in 1947, Santiago Miranda moved to Milan in the 1970s, where he met Perry King. His Spanish background brought a Mediterranean sensibility and a penchant for organic shapes and warm colors to the partnership, perfectly balancing King's Anglo-Saxon rigor.
The King & Miranda Studio
Founded in Milan in 1976, the King & Miranda Design studio quickly became a benchmark for European design. Their collaborations range fromlightingto consumer electronics, and from industrial design to furniture, with clients such as Arteluce, Flos, Olivetti, Bosch and Ideal Standard.
The Triana Lamp for Arteluce
Among the most significant pieces of their production is the Triana floor lamp (1985), created for Arteluce — the historic Italian lighting manufacturer founded by Gino Sarfatti. The Triana is a masterful example of functional design elevated to sculpture: a lacquered metal structure, an adjustable lampshade, and elegant proportions that adapt to any environment. The name is a tribute to the famous district of Seville, Miranda's hometown.
Awards
King & Miranda have received numerous international awards, including the Compasso d'Oro. Their works are featured in museum collections across Europe and the United States.
The Legacy
Perry King and Santiago Miranda represent the best of international design that chose Milan as its creative base — a tradition that has made the city the design capital of the world. Their original pieces from the 1980s are highly sought after by collectors today for their build quality and the historical value they embody.
