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About this Product
The Universale chair, designed by Joe Colombo for Kartell in 1967, stands as a radical milestone in modern design, celebrated as one of the first adult-sized chairs made entirely from injection-moulded plastic. Conceived as a “universal” seat, it combines lightweight durability with a stackable, modular structure, allowing it to adapt effortlessly to different environments and uses. Its smooth, rounded silhouette and vibrant colours reflect the optimistic, forward-looking spirit of late 1960s Italian design, while its industrial production marked a breakthrough that democratized furniture on a global scale. Both functional and futuristic, the Universale embodies Colombo’s vision of design as a flexible, mass-produced system for modern living.
About the Designer
Joe Colombo
The life of maverick Italian designer Joe Colombo (1930–1971) may have been short, but his future-focused vision of intelligent technology and integrated living environments had a revolutionary impact on mid-century design. Colombo’s diverse career began in the world of fine art, studying painting and sculpture at the Brera Academy of Fine Art in his hometown of Milan. He gravitated towards the avant-garde art scene, becoming part of the Movimento Nucleare (Nuclear Movement) of painters, founded by Sergio Dangelo and Enrico Baj, who, inspired by mounting international anxiety about nuclear war, challenged the boundaries of painting with organic forms.
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