Giancarlo Piretti studied art at the Bologna Art Academy during the 1960s, where he later taught interior design at the same institution for seven years while also working as a furniture designer for Castelli. Piretti’s design for Castelli including the chair DSC 106 and the folding chair PLIA, both in 1967. For the later, Piretti received the SMAU prize in 1971.
In 1973, Piretti was awarded the Gute Form by the German Design Council and two years later he became an advisory member of the ISIA Design College in Florence. In 1980 Pirette was the recipient of the National Industrial Design Award in USA.
From 1984-86 Piretti worked for the Castelli subsidiary Castilia. Two years later he presented the Piretti Collection for Castilia, a seating system consisting of over 50 pieces, manufactured in several countries including USA, Italy, Japan and Argentina. In 1991 he received the Compasso d’Oro and three years later he was awarded the American Roscoe Award and the Japanese G Mark for the Xylon chair series.
