Magis

Magis is the brand that has given a novel twist to domestic design, building its identity on incorporating leading edge technology into mass production. Founded in 1976 in the bustling north eastern corner of Italy by a newcomer to the furniture business, Eugenio Perazza, Magis is today a giant international design laboratory that constantly puts itself to the test, seeking technological sophistication and employing a highly diversified workforce.

Magis seizes the day. It embraces the creativity of leading global designers (Richard Sapper, Jasper Morrison, Stefano Giovannoni, Marc Newson, Konstantin Grcic, Ron Arad, the Bouroullecs, Robin Day, Pierre Paulin, Jerszy Seymour, Naoto Fukasawa, Thomas Heatherwick and many others) and channels it towards objects perched on the cutting edge.

Magis is a Factory-free organization: in order to enhance the flexibility of its R&D activities, the company opted to outsource its manufacturing and relies on a local area teeming with skilled contractors. The challenge lying ahead of Magis is perhaps that of returning to simplicity, through the complexity of advanced technology.

Until a short while ago Magis was one of the few companies that manufactured objects in plastic - but today the number has increased considerably. Still, Magis uses the most advanced moulding technologies and techniques; it was the first company in the world to apply air moulding to aesthetical goods. Plastic will remain Magis' reference material, although it is now experimenting with others such as die-cast aluminium, aluminium metal sheet and wood.

Magis is characterised by the multiplicity of its expressive languages, its search for a deep meaning of the project, and its ethics instead of aesthetics. Ideas take 3 or 4 years to turn into products, and many projects are both difficult and complex, taking high risks. Projects are completed as long as they are supported by a high spirit of experimentation and elevated technical cleverness.

Magis works with very well-known designers, but it has always been open to work with young designers, even at the outset of their careers. Jean-Marie Massaud and Jerszy Seymour made their debut on the design scene thanks to the opportunities Magis gave them. Now Magis discovers new passions and punctually chases former design glories, adding them to the mix.