From 1911 to 1918, Italian sculptor Giannino Castiglioni and Livia Bolla had three children: Livio (born 1911), Pier Giacomo (born 1913) and Achille (born 1918). The three boys would grow up to be some of Italy's most prominent architects and designers, honoured as pioneers of Italian design.

All three Castiglioni brothers were interested in technology and art, and they studied architecture at Milan Polytechnic. In 1938, Pier Giacomo (nicknamed Popo) and Livio founded a practice in Milan, which the youngest brother, Achille (nicknamed Cici), joined in 1944. Livio went on to create his own studio, but Popo and Cici continued their collaborations for many years.

Pier Giacomo and Achille Castiglioni exerted a strong influence on the younger generation of Italian designers. They designed some of the best-known icons in the history of industrial design, many of which are now on display at museums and galleries around the world, including the Vitra Design Museum, Germany, the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, and the MoMa, New York. Throughout their careers, they collectively received nine of the prestigious Compasso d´Oro awards.