# DEspotlight // cover story
By ANIRUDH DATTA DESIGN ESSENTIA MAGAZINE // DEINDIA
Patricia Urquiola studied architecture and design at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid ( Technical University of Madrid ) and completed her studies at the Politecnico di Milano ( Technical University of Milan ) where graduated under the mentorship of Achille Castiglioni . In Spain , she was awarded the Golden Medal for Merits in Art and received the Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic . Patricia Urquiola has been the Creative Director of Cassina since 2015 and works with important design companies , including Moroso , Driade , Flos , GAN , Andreu World , Glas Italia , Kettal , Kvadrat and international groups such as Haworth , BMW , Boeing , Louis Vuitton , Missoni , Mandarin Oriental Hotels , Four Seasons , Marriott Group , Starbucks , Ferrari and Swarovski .
Patricia Urquiola ’ s work is exhibited in many art and design museums across the world , including the MOMA in New York , the Decorative Arts Museum in Paris , the Triennale
Museum in Milan , the Design Museum in Monaco , the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne , the Vitra Design Museum in Basel , the Victoria & Albert Museum in London , the Design Museum in Zurich , the Stedelijk Museum of modern and contemporary art in Amsterdam , the Design Museum of Barcelona and the Philadelphia Art Museum .
AD : WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PURSUE A CAREER IN ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN ? WHO WERE YOUR EARLY DESIGN HEROES AND ROLE MODELS ?
PATRICIA : I knew I wanted to be an architect since I was a teenager . So , I chose to study in Madrid , during a moment that was extremely vibrant in the city . I am proud of my education in Spain , even if it was more academic than in Milan . Indeed , when I started studying at Milan Politecnico , classes were very experimental , they were a blend of architecture and design . I fell in love with design especially thanks to professor Castiglioni . He taught us the curiousness , the ability to connect things . I have done my thesis project with him , a smart rug , in which you could plug in your phone , a lamp ; but it was safe because in extra-low voltage . I also worked for 2 years as his assistant .
Of course , also Vico Magistretti was a great mentor for me when I started working at De Padova . He believed in me – we were a small group of designers , very close and essential . But I also owe a lot to clients like Patrizia Moroso , who believed in me since the beginning , and Maria Reig , who made me design my first hotel , the Mandarin Oriental in Barcelona . And last but not least , Maddalena De Padova was the first entrepreneur who believed in me , she had such a vivid intuition .
( on left ) PATRICIA URQUIOLA
July - August 2021 Edition // Design Essentia // DE INDIA | 21