Casati was born in Italy in 1936. He was editor-in-chief and director of Domus magazine between 1961 and 1979, then of La Mia Casa magazine in subsequent years. Over the course of his career, he designed some very fine pieces of furniture and lighting, including the famous Alda armchair (1966) and the Pelota lamp (1971). He also designed a set of chairs and tables for the beautiful Hotel Grifone in Italy. In 1968, together with Emanuele Ponzio, he designed one of his most famous pieces: the Pillola lamp. It is currently on display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.