Born in Treviso in 1946, Roberto Pezzetta began working in "Product Design" in 1969 for a major Italian electric household appliance manufacturer, where he contributed to the setting up of the in-house Industrial Design department. Roberto Pezzetta’s professional path is linked closely to that of the large multinational company for which he is still working. His career is marked by numerous turning points, and since 1982, Zanussi design is linked to his name. Roberto Pezzetta currently lives and works in Pordenone, as Director of Design within the Electrolux European Design Management since 1993. In 1997, he was awarded the title of “Maestro del Lavoro” (Master of Labour) by the President of the Italian Republic. Recently, in January 2002, he left his position as head of Zanussi design to take on the role of Creative Director for the Design of the Electrolux Group, under the title of Vice President of Design. "The Wizard's Collection" for Zanussi is no doubt the most spectacular of his works, yet it should only be considered as being the tip of a much deeper iceberg, which has formed over the years with a countless range of innovative projects constituting a driving force for the large electric household appliance sector. Some extremely practical examples include: OZ, ZOE and TEO, experimental prototypes for a new "species" of domestic appliances.
His constant enthusiasm for his “job” and his conviction that the professionalism of a designer can only grow from the experience gained in a variety of different sectors have driven him to approach other fields of application of Industrial Design. As a matter of fact, he works in conjunction with a number of companies and co-operates in various shows addressing all sorts of Industrial Design themes. In particular, his work experience with his friend Cleto Munari has seen him dealing with topics and settings that are completely different from his traditional profession while at the same time being stimulating, such as his work with glass, silver and gold, in a highly different context from large industrial production, and much closer to fine craftwork on the boundaries of the art world. He is fascinated by the world of communication, so much so that his projects do not limit themselves to offering a formal technical solution but go much further, in search of an object that expresses itself with character, fun and a lot of irony.
His products have been on shown in exhibitions and museums throughout Europe and even further afield, and his work has been awarded prizes on several occasions:
The Compasso d'Oro in 1981 with the Zanussi Industrial Design.
Five products Distinguished in the 1987, 1989 and 1991 editions of the Compasso d'Oro.
He received the Gold Medal at the Biennial Exhibition of Design in Ljubljana BIO 12.
He won the SAMI du Design at the Domestic Art Exhibition in Paris in 1990.
Goed Industrieel Ontwerp in Holland in 1987,1991,1999 and 2001.
Design Prestige in Brno 1997.
Premio De Diseńo MCMXCVIII. XVI International Fair of La Havana, Cuba 1998.
Honour Distinction at the 1998 and 2001 Compasso d’Oro.
"GOOD DESIGN " Award. The Chicago Athenaeum. Chicago U.S.A. 1999, 2000 and 2001