Castiglioni's design legacy comes to life in two flip-books

Giovanna Castiglioni, daughter of legendary Italian designer Achille Castiglioni, has collaborated with illustrator Sara Vivan to create two animated flip-books that bring her father's iconic designs and family life into motion. Published by Corraini, the books feature the Castiglioni family members—including father Achille, young Giovanna, mother Irma, dogs Linea and Lapis, and cat Ipazia—alongside signature objects and functional elements from famous installations. The first flip-book, "Basello. Castiglioni in 2 sec.," focuses on two enduring designs: the Lampadina table and wall lamp (designed for Flos in 1972, the year of Giovanna's birth) and the Basello step-stool (produced by Zanotta in 1987). Both exemplify Castiglioni's characteristic mix of simplicity, irony, and lightness. Lampadina features a spool for winding the cord, a partially frosted bulb, and a hidden hole for wall mounting. Basello consists of two elements of different heights connected by a cylindrical joint, allowing various configurations; it later evolved into the Joy mobile bookshelf. Vivan's illustrations place these objects within the Castiglioni home, revealing intimate details of the designer's private life. The project aims to make design accessible even to children, highlighting lesser-known aspects of the great designer's family story.