Guido Drocco and Franco Mello are renowned Italian designers, best known for their iconic collaboration on the Cactus coat rack, a landmark piece in the Radical Design movement. Born in 1942 in San Benedetto Belbo, Cuneo, Guido Drocco graduated in architecture from the Polytechnic University of Turin. In addition to his career as an industrial designer, he has taught architectural design at the Polytechnic University of Turin since 1996. Franco Mello, born in 1945 in Genoa, has worked in various fields, including design, graphic design, publishing, and art. He has edited art books and designed catalogs for notable artists such as Piero Manzoni, Giuseppe Penone, and Yves Klein.

The collaboration between the two designers made a significant impact on contemporary design with the creation of the Cactus coat rack in 1972 for the Gufram brand. This piece, which challenges conventional ideas of functionality and aesthetics, merges art and design in a playful and provocative way. The Cactus quickly became an iconic object of Italian Radical Design, celebrating creativity and boldness in furniture design. Its success endures, with reissues and artistic collaborations, including limited editions inspired by artists like Andy Warhol. Drocco and Mello’s work continues to influence contemporary design, with their creations regularly featured in prestigious collections and exhibitions worldwide.