Paolo Pininfarina named the 2024 Laureate of The American Prize for Design

Paolo Pininfarina Awarded The American Prize for Design 2024

Award and Announcement
Paolo Pininfarina has been posthumously awarded The American Prize for Design for 2024 by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design, The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies, and Good DesignR 2024. The award will be presented at the ‘The City and The World’ Athens Symposium in Greece on September 21, 2024. His nomination was confirmed a month before his untimely passing in April 2024 at the age of 65.

Tributes and Legacy
Christian Narkiewicz-Laine, President/CEO of The Chicago Athenaeum, highlighted Paolo’s work: “Beautiful, stunning, provocative, and instant landmark classics define the hallmark of Pininfarina, a signature of any object designed under the supervision of Paolo Pininfarina… Paolo was an expert in furniture, architectural, nautical, aeronautical, and industrial product design. His work seamlessly integrated Pininfarina’s automotive heritage with modern design, enhancing everyday lives.”

Career and Contributions
Paolo Pininfarina, born on August 28, 1958, in Turin, Italy, had a distinguished career. After earning a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Turin, he took on roles at Cadillac, Honda, and General Motors. In 1982, he joined Pininfarina, the company founded by his grandfather, Battista “Pinin” Farina. By 1987, he became President and CEO of Pininfarina Extra S.p.A., focusing on diverse design fields. He was instrumental in expanding the company’s presence in North and South America, establishing Pininfarina of America with offices in Miami and New York.

Leadership and Innovations
Paolo’s tenure at Pininfarina saw significant milestones. He joined the Board of Directors in 1988 and became Vice President of Pininfarina S.p.A. in 2006. Following his brother Andrea’s sudden death in 2008, Paolo became Chairman, guiding the company through various innovative projects, including the creation of the Sergio concept car and the Automobili Pininfarina Battista, an electric hypercar unveiled in 2019.

\Statements from Pininfarina
Silvio Angori, CEO of Pininfarina, reflected on Paolo’s legacy: “This prestigious award for Eng. Pininfarina stirs mixed emotions. We’re saddened he can’t accept it personally, as it would have brought him joy. Yet, we are proud, as honoring Paolo Pininfarina means honoring Pininfarina’s essence and its Italian design legacy. We’re deeply grateful for his extraordinary contribution. The best way to honor him is to continue committing to Pininfarina’s future, as he would have wished.”

About The American Prize for Design
The American Prize for Design celebrates excellence in design, innovation, and contributions to humanity and the public good. Previous laureates include Gorden Wagener, Norman Foster, Flavio Manzoni, and Karim Rashid.