I Am an Italian Designer, Builder and Director Living in London, UK

rbs hackathon, presented my team's idea
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More than a decade of experience working for brands, building digital products and interactive experiences

As a child in Italy ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น, I found immense joy in drawing. I loved immersing myself in the intricate details, focusing intently on crafting each element, and then stepping back to admire the complete composition. My family played a crucial role in nurturing this passion, exposing me to diverse ideologies, music, cultures, and travels, especially around Europe and Asia. A memorable moment that influenced my career path was when I was 15, and my mom suggested I try graphic design. Initially, I was focused on becoming an architect, but she encouraged me to explore a local graphic design studio. This experience changed my life, and for that, I owe a heartfelt thank you to my mom.

My experiences in Europe and Asia taught me that the world is much bigger and more diverse than my hometown. Seeing how different people approach life, think, and live their daily lives made me realise the vastness of the world and the endless possibilities it holds.

One of my most memorable projects is Clarium, a milestone where I was responsible for its design business value. This project involved shipping AI-driven products, generative AI products, big data solutions, and crafting a brand identity that significantly impacted people's lives. Learning a new industry was a challenge, especially one dominated by unorganised and scattered data. However, mastering the ability to read and analyse this data helped me excel. Collaborating with a global team across various time zones improved my communication skills, making me a better writer and thinker.

My work at Palantir is another highlight of my career. I always dreamed of being part of this innovative company that helps the world make informed decisions and preserve democracies.

The most rewarding part was teaming up with a US team to build a product for overseeing Palantir's end-to-end spending and costs for the CTO and co-founder. This experience was a dream come true.

Designing a product for Clarium to help establish clinical continuum in hospital operations was particularly impactful. It ensured that surgeries were delivered on time, avoiding missing items, which made me immensely proud of the team I worked with.

I believe that technology has a unique power to influence our world. As a designer, I recognise and respect my role in shaping human life. I strive to create designs that aid society, connect people, sustain the environment, and inspire those around us to improve our world. This commitment to design extends beyond work; it is a way of living and contributing back to society.

Some of the brand Iย worked for and with:

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Philosophy &ย Approach

World-Building

Designing a product is like building a parallel world where human and machine lives intertwine. I incorporate my personality into this world through the craft I've developed during my career and my MA in Design for Art Direction, focusing on details and the emotional states of users.

Branding

I approach branding by analysing audience archetypes using Carl Gustav Jungโ€™s models. Understanding a brand's existential essence and reason for existence is crucial for creating a strong identity that resonates with the audience. Projects like Figaro showcase my process of combining quantitative research, storytelling, and visual communication to create unique and impactful brands.

Balancing Creativity and Consistency

Consistency helps people learn and recognise a brand, but creativity comes first. Once a creative concept is defined, I ensure it is maintained with consistency to build familiarity.

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Key Milestones

Changing Locations

I realised that to do the best work, I needed to be where the best work was happening. I moved to Dublin, lived on a friend's couch, and worked on an e-commerce company while traveling and experiencing the Irish life ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ช. My first job in the UK was as a UXย Specialist. This journey took me from Italy to Ireland, United Kingdom and Hungary, and other vibrant cities, exposing me to multiple cultures and incredible individuals.

Collaborating with Amazing People

I have had the privilege to work with inspiring clients, partners, and managers across various industries, including health, entertainment, finance, automotive, consumer services, energy, learning, telecommunication, government and defense. Their perspectives and approaches have profoundly influenced my work.

Evolving Focus

Through these experiences, my focus shifted from technology to people. Understanding how we define our relationship with technology has become as crucial as the technology's capabilities. Design, to me, is about improving people's life. While trends come and go, the core audience evolves, shaping our work.

Leadership and Impact

Over the past 12 years, I have designed numerous products and grown beyond design to build and lead design teams. As a leader, I have launched digital products, nurturing a creative culture where individuals from diverse backgrounds come together to do their best work. My work at Palantir, unifying the core engine of its main products and creating a digital twin of a company, stands out as a particularly impactful project.

If you've made it this far and are curious to learn more about my journey, please feel free to reach out. I'm always open to a conversation ๐Ÿ‘‹.

SPINA, J. (2018) deconstructed city [KODAK METALLIC FINE PRINT]. 114.3cm x 85.7cm
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We Are What We Believe

I believe that technology has a unique power to influence our world.

As a Creator, I recognise and respect my role in shaping human life.

I develop my own Ideas.

I strive to aid society, connect people and inspire those around us to transform our world through the power of Creation & Destruction.

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Skills

Examples

About

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