Studio Irvine was founded by James Irvine in Milan, Italy in 1988. James Irvine was born in London and graduated in 1984 from The Royal College of Art, London. He moved to Milan the same year. From 1984 to 1992 he was a design consultant for Olivetti Design Studio designing industrial products under the direction of Michele De Lucchi and Ettore Sottsass. From 1993 to 1997 in parallel to his private studio, he was a partner of Sottsass Associati Milan and and was responsible for the industrial design group. In 2004 he was also elected RDI (Royal Designer for Industry) by the Royal Society of Arts in London and in 2007 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Design from Kingston University.
During its long career, Studio Irvine in Milan has collaborated with various internationally renowned companies including Alias, Arper, Artemide, B&B Italia, Canon, Coro, Duravit, Foscarini, LG, Magis, Marsotto Edizioni, MDF Italia, Muji, Olivari, Olivetti, Phaidon, Ströer, Thonet, Whirlpool, WMF, and Zumtobel. After James Irvine’s premature death in 2013, Studio Irvine found its natural continuity in Marialaura Rossiello Irvine (partner at James Irvine Srl since 2009) and Maddalena Casadei (Irvine’s right hand for nine years).
Marialaura Rossiello was born in Naples, where she graduated in Architecture. She moved to Milan to pursue a Master’s degree in Strategic Design and Brand Management at MIP, Milano Politecnico, School of Management in 2000. As a design consultant and art director, she worked on product development from concept to finished product for various design brands. From 2001 to 2004, she was responsible for new product development at Danese, and from 2004 to 2006, she was head of marketing. Since 2012, she has been the art director of the Matteo Brioni brand. Maddalena Casadei was born in Forlì and graduated in Architecture in Ferrara. She moved to Milan for a Master’s in Industrial Design at Domus Academy in 2002, where she continues to work. In 2004, she joined Studio Irvine, working on various design projects, interior and exhibit design, while also running her own studio from 2010, which has now merged with Studio Irvine.
The clarity of James Irvine’s working method, developed over the years, and the belief that the signature is not a priority in design, have strengthened Marialaura Rossiello and Maddalena Casadei's determination to secure a future for Studio Irvine. James’ rigorous yet ironic approach was a training in both design and life. Rooted in the idea of design inspired by ethics, the 'human factor,' and personal interaction (with clients, technicians, workers, consumers), Studio Irvine embodies a vision in constant evolution, grounded in the classics of the Italian design school but shaped with a broader international perspective.
The cross-disciplinary projects in the history of the studio, from designing buses to designing pens, demonstrate the ongoing tension and curiosity for all types and scales of projects. Today, the studio is characterized as a place where collections of objects, prototypes, pictures, souvenirs, collections, and drawings serve as a continuous source of inspiration. Studio Irvine continues to collaborate with Amorim, Muji, Marsotto Edizioni, Kettal, Phaidon, while also embracing new design challenges in product identity and brand consolidation for industrial companies seeking to engage with the design world.
