Giotto Stoppino, 1972
Object
In 1972, Giotto Stoppino designed an object for Kartell that captured the optimism and innovation of the early Italian plastic design era. The Magazine Rack, identified by catalog number 4675, is made from a single piece of molded ABS plastic and stands out for its four staggered compartments and central handle, combining functionality and sculptural simplicity in a refined balance.
At the time, plastic was transforming the world of furniture, and Stoppino succeeded in turning an everyday item into a modern presence that was lightweight, durable, and full of character. Produced by Kartell, a leader in material experimentation, the Magazine Rack 4675 expresses a new idea of design: interesting, accessible, and oriented toward industrial production.
Its soft lines, bright colors, and practical construction reflect the spirit of the Space Age, showing how even a simple household accessory could be both functional and carefully considered.
Exploring New Forms in Plastic: The Magazine Rack for Kartell
The Magazine Rack 4675 grew out of Giotto Stoppino’s early experiments with large-scale plastic furniture for Kartell. At the invitation of Giulio Castelli, the company’s founder, Stoppino took on the challenge of reinterpreting traditional wooden furniture through the use of plastic. After more than a year of research and refinement of injection molding techniques, he achieved a first major result in 1969 with a set of stackable side tables.
Building on this technical experience, in 1972 Stoppino designed the Magazine Rack, produced from a single piece of ABS plastic.
The staggered compartments improve visibility and make objects easier to access, while the central handle not only facilitates transport but also reinforces the structure, helping to prevent deformation. Every curve and surface is carefully shaped to optimize the flow of plastic during molding, ensuring strength without the need for additional joints.
The project reflects Kartell’s broader vision of transforming household objects into high-quality, accessible industrial products. Stoppino’s background in architecture is evident in the object’s balanced proportions and its stability, maintained even under full load.
The success of the Magazine Rack demonstrated that plastic was not only a material for exploring new forms, but also one capable of offering durability and longevity, paving the way for a new era of plastic design in the 1970s.
Magazine Rack in museum collections
Designed in 1972, the Magazine Rack 4675 remained in continuous production for decades and is now part of the permanent collection at the Kartell Museo.
Although it did not receive a specific award, the magazine rack is part of the broader trajectory of innovation that earned Stoppino several Compasso d’Oro prizes. His work, marked by technical precision and material experimentation, is held in major international collections including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The Magazine Rack is recognized as one of the first successful examples of a household accessory produced through large-scale injection molding.
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Details
Kartell
Height: 345 mm
Width: 400 mm
Depth: 185 mm
Thermoplastic technopolymer, mass-dyed or painted.
