This illustrated survey traces the development of Italian design from the unification of Italy in the 1870s to the 1980s. Penny Sparke examines the relationship between design, industrial production, social change and cultural identity. The book explores the evolution of furniture, interiors, decorative arts and industrial design, including the reconstruction period after the Second World War and the emergence of radical anti-design in the 1960s. It places Italian design in its historical, economic and political context, highlighting the innovations and movements that established Italy as a major force in modern design. (AI-generated content description)