Born in Novara in 1932, Enzo Mari was an Italian designer, artist, and theorist, a critical figure in twentieth-century design. His work is distinguished by a rigorous approach, interpreting design as a critical tool and opposing the notion of consumption as the ultimate aim of a project. Mari conceived objects as instruments of knowledge and responsibility, capable of educating the viewer and shaping the relationship between humans, production, and society. Central to his philosophy is the Autoprogettazione project, aimed at restoring awareness and engagement to the user. His work has had a profound influence on debates about the social and cultural role of design.