John Bennett
Milano, Italy

Born in Preston, UK, 1958., Graduated from Leeds University in furniture design 1980, and from the Royal College of Art in London.1983, Masters Degree in Furniture. Since then has been working in Italy as a freelance designer collaborating with companies world wide.1983-1986 at Tecno SpA, ItalyWorked on many different projects, including the beam mounted public seating system, “P03”, “Dealer desking” furniture for the new Lloyds of London building with the architects Richard Rogers and ptns. On the Nomos office furniture range with Sir Norman Foster & Ptns, and recently completed (1997) work on the P77 auditorium seating for the new Valencia concert hall designed by architects Norman Foster & Ptns. 1987-1988 at Marcatré SpA, ItalyFor Marcatré spa. Italy, designed a range of accessories for the “Zelig” desking system which were selected for Italy’s design award, Compasso D’Oro in 1988. I occupied a role as design interface working together with the technical and manufacturing teams and consultant designers. At that time began working with Claudio Bellini on concept design work for a new office furniture series which was to mature into the Extra Dry range manufactured in 1990.1988 for Planula SpA (Florence), ItalyDesigned “Isola” office furniture collection, launched at the Milan fair in 1988 and successively selected for the design exhibition “Form & Function. Work in progress”, at London’s Science Museum.1990-94 for Syrma SpA, ItalyWall storage and partition system “Apotema”; Executive desking collection, “Edon”, and was responsible for the co-ordination and design of trade fair stands and promotional material.1994 for Tecno Spa, SpainDesigned operative desking system complete with solo & multiple work configurations.

1996 Forza Furniture Ltd.ABC Desking system. Work-surfaces PU sandwich foam technology, service unit designed with inspectionable frame structure for cable management.1997 for Frezza SpA, ItalyDesigned the "TW collection" office desking system: A complete product range including solo, multiple and managerial solutions. The range includes a full storage range and privacy screens. 1998 for Ing. Castaldi IlluminazioneDesigned the "Bella" suspension lighting.2002 for Pridetel ltd. In KoreaDECT cordless telephones “Flowerpot” and “Compact”.2004 Bmind ItaliaExtruded aluminium computer case. Horizontal, vertical and stacking performance.1993 Retail ProjectsPoint of sale concept designs for Calvin Klein, Caritas Jean Paul Gautier and Kenzo: Milan Rinascente, Collaboration with Design Schools and UniversitiesIn 1998 as External Examiner, furniture design school at Leeds University. Royal College of Art in London, as visiting lecturer on “furniture design for industry”, within the furniture design school. For the European Design School in Milano Italy, in 1998, coordinated the final year research programme, “Workspace for the future”, sponsored by Tecno Milano. In 2001 Kitchen design Project sponsored by Val Cucina, and in 2003, “New Office Landscape” sponsored by DEGW space planning and Sacea office furniture. 1997 at Atelier Bellini Srl, ItalyIn 1997 began working with Atelier Bellini in Milan. Developing work for office and domestic furniture, product and automotive design sectors. In 1999 appointed studio director responsible for co-ordination and studio design direction.Clients include: Charry Terace (Japan) kettle project & tea service, Fiat, concept car project, Nowystyl, Poland, community chair range & office chair, Rovochair international, Germany, office managerial chair, Sunstar, Japan, manual and electronic toothbrushes, Natuzzi corporate interior scheme, Alan Heller inc, USA, Y-cami, Barazzoni, Italy, My-Lady and Butterfly cooking pans & Caimi Brevetti, Italy, library shelving system air. Toshiba Japan concept design home theatre.2004 Estel OfficeIn 2004 began collaboration with Estel office and working on desking systems. Works to date includes Asterisco range completion, P.46 desking system with leg in gas assisted moulded tecno polymer, P.80 panel leg system, P.04 management and meeting work tables, storage ranges; free-cab individual poly-functional storage elements, desk-cab work place top support elements including ped and personal storage, storage-cab range for generic open-space and closed offices.