Michael Graves was born in Indianapolis, USA. He received his architectural training at the University of Cincinnati and Harvard University. In 1960 he won the Rome Prize and went on to study at the American Academy in Rome, of which he is now a Trustee. Among his projects are the Portland Building in Cincinnati, the Walt Disney Swan and Dolphin Hotels. He is the winner of fifteen Progressive Architecture design awards, and many other international awards. He began designing objects for Alessi in 1984 - the most famous of which is the 'Bird Kettle' which spawned a whole Range of Kitchen accoutrements in the same style.

Konstantin Grcic Industrial Design recent new projects, include the very unique Miura Chair for Plank.