Patricia Urquiola was named designer of the year by now! design à vivre, an event which is part of the Maison&Objet show at Parc des Expositions de Paris-Nord Villepinte, 25-28 January. There will be a one-woman show of Urquiola’s work in the fair’s entrance area, plus a special event devoted to the designer on 25 January.

Patricia was born in 1961 in oviedo, spain. she studied architecture  at the faculdad de arquitectura de madrid. After transferring to italy she graduated from the milan polytechnic  in 1989 (with a thesis mentored by achille castiglioni). From 1990 to 1992 she assisted in the courses held by achille castiglioni and eugenio bettinelli, both at the milan polytechnic and at the ENSCI, paris. In 1991 she started working for the furniture company de padova in milan, heading the product development office, where she also designed her first furniture items (together with vico magistretti). Between 1993 and 1996 she opened an associated studio with two  friends, working on architecture, interiors, showrooms and restaurants. From 1996 to 2000 she became manager of the lissoni associati design group and in 2001 she opened her own studio in milan, focusing on product design, displays and architecture. she became best known through her many pieces for moroso. Patricia has won many design awards and speaks at conferences and seminars in various international universities. Her recent work includes projects for depadova, moroso, B&B, alessi, driade, foscarini, kartell & flos.