About / Joe Ricchio

Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  He earned his Bachelor of Science in 1980 in Industrial Design from California State University at Long Beach.  While at CSULB, Joe Ricchio was selected for CSU International Programs in Florence, Italy, where he immersed himself in the country's art, design and culture.

Following a four-year tenure as product and graphic designer for Ron Loosen Associates, he founded Ricchio Design.  From its inception, his consultancy has focused on product, furniture and graphic design.

He has designed seating, accessories and more for a virtual who's-who of contract furniture, most notably the ROSCOE award winning Ricchio Chair.  Many of his other designs have garnered recognition as well, including IBD, IDSA and Best of NeoCon awards.   

From 2004 through 2018 Joe Ricchio was a faculty member of the Design Department at CSULB teaching Furniture Design. In 2004 he established the “Ricchio Design Retreat,” taking selected students for the next six years to visit the Milan Furniture Fair, and the following four years taking students to Neocon in Chicago.

Press

ID Magazine

Abitare

Interior Design

Contract Magazine

2010 Best of Neocon, Silver – Truman Collection: Izzy, Spring Lake, MI

2009 Best of Neocon, Gold – HealthFirst Infection Control Centers: Peter Pepper Products, Compton, CA

2008 Botanist” Blank Canvas – Ricchio was selected as one of 10 participants to submit product designs to expand the Botanist line. A portion of the proceeds earned is donated to a charitable organization selected by each participant. Designers included: Margo Chase, Milton Glaser, Cory Grosser, Sami Hayek, Arik Levy, David Mocarski, Karim Rashid, Joe Ricchio, Lella and Massimo Vignelli and Claude Zellweger.

2007 Wilsonart Chair Competition – Ricchio successfully had CSULB chosen as the selected school to participate in the design competition. The winning student received a $1,000.00 Scholarship and an all expense paid trip to New York to attend ICFF, where his or her chair was exhibited. Also, CSULB and the winning student were featured in Metropolis magazine.

2004 Invited Guest Speaker – Neocon: National Exposition of Contract Furnishings, Chicago, IL.

2003 Established the Cortona Design Retreat – The Cortona Design Retreat is an annual program to take selected students for two weeks to visit the Milan Furniture Fair and experience the design, art and culture of Italy. The first week is spent in the modern and bustling design center of Milan, while the second week is spent in the medieval hilltop town of Cortona experiencing Italian culture and history. Expenses are covered by the generous donations of Ricchio Design clients, alumni and friends.

2001 Salone Del Mobile Exhibition: Milan, Italy – Richmond Collection: Potocco, Udine, Italy

1999 Promosedia: Udine, Italy – Served as a member of the “Panel of Judges” to choose the winning designs of the “Top Ten Awards”

1993 Best of Neocon Award, Silver – Magazine Racks: Peter Pepper Products, Los Angeles, CA

1992 IBD Product Design Award, Industrial Design Excellence Award – Playback: ai/Vecta, Grand Prairie, TX

1991 Roscoe Award – Ricchio Chair: Knoll International, New York, NY

1981 Industrial Design Excellence Award – Desktop Computer: Pronto Computers, Torrance, CA