We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Francesca Furian. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Francesca below.

Alright, Francesca thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

I grew up in the industrial district of a small hamlet in Treviso, a town near Venice, where my parents decided to build their business. We lived at the outskirts of town, isolated from the center. During the week, our yard was bustling with the movement of trucks and employees’ cars, but by evening and on weekends, the place was left to cats and frogs. What some might have seen as desolation, I saw as peace, because the love within my family was all I needed. My mother always taught me to be grateful for what I had and to make the most of it, which I did—creating an imaginary world that now, as an adult, fuels my life as a creative.

My parents were tireless workers, and even when they came home, they kept busy. I can still picture our evenings: my mother preparing dinner alongside my grandmother while my father, deeply focused on fixing something in the living room, often arrived late to the table. Like him, I immerse myself in my work, often losing track of the world outside.

My family always nurtured my artistic nature, allowing me the freedom to draw wherever I wanted and providing the tools I needed to express myself. I still remember the day my sister came home with a painter’s easel—she knew the piece of wood she had found would mean the world to me. Many times in my life, I’ve started exploring new mediums thanks to my family’s encouragement.

I was a stubborn child, and perhaps because my parents were busy, they let me make my own mistakes and learn from them. Only now, as a parent myself, do I realize how challenging it is to allow this kind of freedom, and how much it shaped my personality.

They taught me to always give my best as the only way to achieve meaningful results. They taught me not to complain, but to act—if something can be improved, then improve it. This fostered my problem-solving mindset. Above all, they taught me to find my own path to happiness.

Francesca, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’ve been a creative mind for as long as I can remember, exploring the world through art from a young age. Growing up in a small, charming town in northern Italy, I spent my childhood in relative isolation—a setting that, I believe, sparked my creativity. I remember afternoons spent exploring nature with my cats, silently observing my surroundings for hours, walking along fence walls, jumping from rooftops to trees, capturing ants, and watching lizards. I crafted my own toys and built shelters for my cats and me, using cardboard boxes and recycled materials. Color and paint gradually became essential to my imaginary world, as did a problem-solving mindset for creating things. I experimented with various media as I explored different ways of expressing and representing my ideas.
Later, pursuing an industrial design degree at an academy of fine arts proved to be pivotal in my development as a creative. I learned to develop and render projects, immersing myself in a community of artists and makers of all kinds. This experience taught me to apply the design process not only to industrial design but also to every project in my life, shaping my mindset.
After graduation in Industrial design, I worked in London, where I deepened my passion for art. I then returned to Italy to work in the furniture industry, spending eight years as a designer and art manager in the Murano glass field, blending artistic glasswork with furniture design which perfectly aligned with my training and passions.
Life took another turn when, expecting my first child, I moved to New York to support my partner’s job opportunity. I began a new chapter as a full-time mom in a foreign country. After having my second child, I continued to find refuge in art, working as a graphic and product designer at night (I’ve always been a night owl), taking specialization courses, and creating art that I kept tucked away in a drawer. One day, for a market organized by my son’s school, I decided to showcase these pieces. That experience reignited a spark, and I realized I needed work that accommodated my family life, which led me to start my own business as an independent artist. Balancing family and career expectations was challenging, but he who stops is lost and ultimately, I found a new strength and motivation to pursue my dreams.
Today, I work as a freelance industrial designer, illustrator, and artist, collaborating with companies and designing my own merchandise, which I sell at markets and in gift and art stores. I’m always seeking new opportunities to apply my skills and creativity. As a multidisciplinary designer, I enjoy managing all aspects of a project, from concept to market presentation, wearing as many “hats” as needed.
Based in the vibrant borough of Brooklyn, my work is deeply influenced by its dynamic energy and rich cultural diversity. My focus is currently on watercolor and printmaking, where I use the natural imprecision of stamp techniques to convey the balance of uniformity and diversity. Watercolors, in contrast, allow me to express my emotions. This combination enables me to create art that reflects the bustling urban landscape and rich cultural tapestry of the place I live, while ensuring that each piece is a unique interpretation of the world around us.
My current goals are to expand my network by establishing a presence in physical stores and online, supporting the growth of my artwork and merchandise offerings, and exploring other fields where I can apply my expertise. Recently, I had the opportunity to teach art, an experience I enjoyed, so I am considering expanding in that direction as well.
I work from my small studio in Park Slope, where I live with my family. This is where my dreams take shape, looking out at the world from my window. This is Francis’ World—as I called my brand—because who knows where this journey will lead!

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

When I moved to New York, I felt excited and intrigued by the idea of a fresh start, but I was also navigating a huge personal change: I was expecting my son, and my job situation forced me to leave work sooner than planned. I spent that period somewhat isolated, like a mother cat, as my partner was away for work. I found comfort staying between my parents’ house and mine, limiting social contact. At first, this new life felt relaxing, but over time, I had hard times accepting my new condition, so I turned to art for focus and purpose. Like any mom, I was eagerly awaiting the baby’s arrival, especially since it marked the beginning of a new life project that included moving to New York.
When I finally reunited with my partner in Brooklyn, I faced another wave of change. Letting go of my workaholic habits was tough, but adjusting to a new culture was even harder. My Italian lifestyle didn’t quite fit into this new reality. Following the advice my mom gave me when I was a confused child, I wrote down my feelings to help make sense of the challenges I was facing, when I struggled to find myself as a stay-at-home mom and housewife. I found that my family’s needs didn’t always align with my own nature, but I learned to manage, caring for a newborn while spending afternoons between the playground and the laundromat. I discovered how to cook with new ingredients (and where to find Italian ones without spending a fortune!), how to express myself and connect with people from around the world, and how does exist different value scales. How to navigate the subway with a stroller, and how the scholastic system works.I became an expert on playgrounds and kids’ activities..
When I ran out of words to write, I decided to focus on studies to make the most of my time away from work. I pursued a specialization in graphic design and earned a certificate in product design from Parsons. With two kids, success wasn’t a given, but I was driven by passion and maybe a bit of ambition.
Once I completed my studies, I applied for a job in design but quickly realized a full-time role didn’t fit my family’s needs. So I began freelancing in my free time, although industrial design was challenging to manage from home. This led me to focus more on graphic design and illustration, resulting in my first illustrated children’s book. The positive response and satisfaction I gained motivated me to continue, with each project leading to the next and building my confidence.
The most recent project came from a friend who trusted me to collaborate on a Brooklyn-inspired tableware collection. I created six stamps with Brooklyn themes for block printing, which I’ve used to make prints now showcased in art galleries and sold as originals and merchandise. This visibility opened up an opportunity to teach, giving me new avenues for growth, and who knows what the future holds!
By listening to my heart and passions, I’ve never felt lost. They give me the strength to find the path to realize my dreams.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

It’s funny how I always misunderstood the popular Italian saying, “impara l’arte e mettila da parte,” which translates to “learn the art and set it aside.” Throughout my life, I heard people say this, maybe because I was always eager to learn new things and rarely said no to new experiences. The saying was often used when someone was learning something new, and I’ve been endlessly curious since I was a toddler. But I had misinterpreted the phrase, taking it as a warning that art isn’t a reliable way to make a living—that you can learn it, but then you should put it aside and pursue something more “serious.”
In reality, the true meaning of the saying is something that resonates deeply with me now, and I’ve come to understand it firsthand: time spent learning a skill is never wasted. Even if you can’t apply what you learn immediately, it may become valuable in the future. So every chance to learn something new should be seized.

At this point in my life, I feel I’ve connected the dots, discovering a new version of myself, built from all I’ve learned along my journey. I trust more in my own skills and experiences now, and less in what others say is the “right” path. I continue to learn, always trying to make the most of it, putting each lesson into practice—not setting it aside, but making it part of my life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://francisfurianworld.wixsite.com/home
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/francis_world/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/franciswstudio
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesca-furian-4926baba/