Renato De Fusco left an indelible mark on the history of design
and cultural criticism through a visionary approach that combined theoretical rigor with innovation. As the founder of «Op.
cit.», a journal that has revolutionized the Italian publishing
landscape since 1964, De Fusco created an intellectual space
that introduced and spread cutting-edge international reflections
on design. His conception of design as a complex process – encompassing project, production, sale, and consumption – redefined how the role of design in society is understood. This article
traces his extraordinary contribution, exploring how «Op. cit.»
became a crucial tool for the evolution of design criticism, and
highlights De Fusco’s enduring impact on both Italian and international design culture.
