ETTORE SOTTSASS (1917 - 2007), born in Innsbruck, Austria. He received a degree in architecture from the Turin Politechnico in 1939. In 1947 he set up a firm in Milan where he dealt with architectural and design projects. In 1980, he founded the firm Sottass Associates, where he continued his work as architect and designer. The following year he set up with colleagues, friends, and internationally renowned architects, the Memphis group, which soon became the flagship of new design and a landmark for the contemporary avant-garde movement. In 1985 his relationship with ACME began with 4 collections of jewelry. ACME was the first American company he designed for. He was awarded both an honorary doctoral degree at the Royal College of Art in London, and a design prize by the Brooklyn Museum in New York. Sottsass recently completed Casa Maui, ACME Studios, one of his most ambitious undertakings in Maui, Hawaii.