THE COMPASSO D’ORO

Since 1954, the most prestigious award in the design world

Established in 1954 from an idea by Gio Ponti, its image was conceived and designed by Albe Steiner, inspired by Adalbert Goeringer’s compass and the golden ratio, while the award itself was later designed by architects Marco Zanuso and Alberto Rosselli. Initially sponsored by the La Rinascente department stores, in 1958 the award was entrusted to ADI, which has since organized the event and managed the historical collection through its Foundation, established in 2001.

In an unprecedented initiative in the field of international design, the Ministry of Cultural Heritage – Regional Directorate for Lombardy, by Decree of April 22, 2004, declared the “ADI Compasso d’Oro Award Historical Collection” to be of “exceptional artistic and historical interest,” officially recognizing it as part of the national heritage.

The Compasso d’Oro Collection comprises a repertoire of products and projects that over the years have been awarded this prize, as well as those that have received honorable mentions. It is the oldest and most institutionalized design award in the world, aimed at highlighting the quality of “Made in Italy” products, but more importantly, recognizing the value-based process that design imparts to production and society across various fields.

THE COMPASSO D’ORO INTERNATIONAL AWARD

Since 2014, ADI (Association for Industrial Design) has introduced the Compasso d’Oro International Award, launching a series of thematic editions open to international participation. Each edition focuses on a specific theme, aimed at exploring emerging and significant aspects of design in its ongoing evolution.

On the occasion of Expo 2025 Osaka, ADI, in collaboration with the General Commission for Italy at Expo 2025 Osaka, is launching a new edition of the Compasso d’Oro International Award inspired by the theme of the Universal Exposition: “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.”