Rinaldi, Gastone

Gastone Rinaldi (1920-2006) was an Italian designer. In 1948, with his brother Giorgio, he took control of his father Mario’s firm, Rima (established in 1916). His design philosophy further developed after meeting Giò Ponti in 1950, who encouraged him to continue creating forms and models increasingly centered on metal. Rinaldi utilized tubing, steel rods, mesh and foam-rubber upholstery. This gave birth to some landmark chairs for Italy in the 1950s. His ‘DU 30’ chair won the 1954 Compasso d'Oro. After leaving Rima, he founded a brand new chair factory in 1974, he continued to design for until the late 1980s. His designs for the new company were nominated for the Compasso d'Oro in 1978 and 1981.