A collective history of the Italian design industry: A tractor seat that transforms into a stool; a bicycle seat that becomes an oscillating yet practicable point of support; a shapeless bag full of polystyrene balls that accommodates and accompanies any movement; a bundle of sticks that opens to become a clothes hanger--these are just several examples of groundbreaking designs produced by Aurelio Zanotta's design company, founded in 1954.

Here, Zanotta has written a collective history of the Italian design industry, covering 550 projects created by 120 designers--including Enzo Mari, Alessandro Mendini, Bruno Munari, Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Gio Ponti, Marco Zanuso, Gae Aulenti, Ettore Sottsass, just to mention some--in 60 years of history and including almost 100 award-winning pieces featured in design museums across the world.

Organized alphabetically, Design: 101 is a dictionary of design stories, anecdotes and critical interpretations with accompanying illustrations in a handsome and portable volume.