Vitra: The Anatomy of a Design Company

The in-depth story of one of the world’s most innovative and influential design companies

In the recent history of contemporary design and architecture, no company has had more influence than Vitra. From the 1950s to the present day, Vitra has worked with succeeding generations of designers – from Ray and Charles Eames to Frank Gehry and Zaha Hadid, to Ron Arad, Jasper Morrison, and Virgil Abloh. With its forward-thinking approach, Vitra has defined and shaped the way that we live and work.

Written by Deyan Sudjic, Vitra: The Anatomy of a Design Company, tells the story of the three generations behind Vitra. Driven by a sense of cultural and social mission, Vitra has had a major influence on every aspect of contemporary design, from architecture to graphics, photography, product design, and the landscape.

It has shaped our understanding of such major figures as Jean Prouvé and Verner Panton. It has encouraged designers at the start of their careers including Jasper Morrison and Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec. It has safeguarded the archives of such key figures as Luis Barragan and Alexander Girard, and built one of the world’s most important design museums.

The book also features inserts written by design consultant and writer Karen Stein, as well as a photographic essay by acclaimed architectural photographer Iwan Baan.

Spanning more than 450 pages and over 400 illustrations, this substantial volume covers Vitra’s working relationship with designers, the rich architectural heritage of the Vitra Campus, with buildings by Tadao Ando, Herzog & de Meuron, and Alvaro Siza. It provides an essential account of contemporary design history, offers a unique insight into the role of design in business, and documents the nature of a design process that results in successful products.

About the Author

Deyan Sudjic is Director Emeritus of London Design Museum and Distinguished Professor of Design and Architectural Studies at Lancaster University. He is a curator and critic, who edited Domus magazine in Milan, was director of the Venice Architecture Biennale, and writes for the Financial Times. Sudjic has authored many titles for Phaidon, including John Pawson: Making Life Simpler and his much sought-after book, Shiro Kuramata (2025).

Karen Stein is an architectural advisor and critic. Previously, she was editorial director of Phaidon Press and, prior to that, senior managing editor of Architectural Record. Her writing has been featured in a variety of publications, including Architectural Record, New York Magazine, The Wall Street Journal Magazine, and The World of Interiors. She is a member of the board of directors of The Architectural League of New York. 

Iwan Baan is an acclaimed photographer of architecture and urban design. He studied at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague, has worked in publishing and documentary photography in both New York and Europe, and was the inaugural recipient of the Julius Shulman award for photography.