Oluce was founded in Milan in the immediate post-war period by entrepreneur Giuseppe Ostuni. From its earliest years, the company received numerous accolades, particularly for iconic designs such as Franco Buzzi’s Luminator, presented at the 9th Milan Triennale, the 363, the 4461 and the celebrated 255/387 (known as Agnoli), designed by Tito Agnoli.

Towards the end of the 1950s, an important collaboration began with Joe Colombo, who came from the world of avant-garde art. This partnership gave rise to some of the company’s most iconic creations, including the Spider lamp, awarded the Compasso d’Oro, the 281 (known as Acrilica), the Coupé arc lamp and the Halogen series, later renamed Colombo.

The appeal and distinctive style of these creations lie in their ability to bring together two seemingly distant worlds: design and art. United under the Oluce name, these two disciplines give rise to unique pieces with a strong aesthetic identity, perfectly suited to contemporary interiors seeking a touch of elegance and modernity.

In the 1970s, the company was taken over by the Verderi family and began a new chapter with another leading figure of Italian design: Vico Magistretti. His contribution led Oluce to win a second Compasso d’Oro award with the celebrated Atollo lamp, which remains one of the brand’s most iconic and significant designs to this day.

As art director and principal designer, Magistretti went on to create numerous design icons for the company, including the Kuta, Lester, Nava, Idomeneo and Pascal lamps, as well as the timeless Sonora.

From the 1990s onwards, the catalogue began to embrace two contrasting influences: the rigorous perfectionism of Hannes Wettstein and the playful irreverence of Riccardo Parisi. Through their distinctive design languages, both helped steer the company towards new forms of experimentation, a journey that would continue throughout the following decades.

Today, Oluce remains at the forefront of contemporary design, constantly reinventing its historic icons through new finishes while complementing them with original creations by emerging designers.