Carlo Urbinati, born in Genoa in 1955, arrived in Venice in 1981 to work with Foscarini, a glass lighting company. He abandoned his architectural studies to devote himself completely to the company, becoming its partner and head of development. In 1983, together with Alessandro Vecchiato, he designed the first line of lamps, fusing blown glass with contemporary design. In 1988 he acquired a majority stake in Foscarini and became chairman, initiating collaborations with designers and researching new materials. Among his successes is the Mite lamp, awarded the Compasso d'Oro in 2001.