Born in Hamburg, Germany, Birgit Lohmann studied industrial design in Florence before moving to Milan, where she has lived and worked, since 1987. For 20 years she practiced as a designer and product development manager for a number of italian architects and master designers, including Achille Castiglioni, Vico Magistretti, Bruno Munari, Enzo Mari and Renzo Piano. She has also worked as a design historian for justice departments and international auction houses. As a researcher and lecturer, Birgit Lohmann has conducted seminars on industrial design at a number of prestigious international universities. In 1999 she co-founded designboom, where she is currently editor-in-chief, head of educational programming and curator for international exhibitions.