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

Gabriele, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

A research project for the American company DSM Somos, producer of sintering materials, what is now also called 3D printing. I organized an exhibition in 2001 in Milano: “The future of production” to show the potential of a technology that was already advanced but which had not yet understood all its potential. A series of objects specifically designed to demonstrate how new technology structures new creative concepts. The “Drinker” glass with integrated straw, produced in a single piece, is at the boundaries of art, and at the same time is the clear expression to the vast public of what the essence and novelty of sintering is.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My artistic studies from high school to university, and in particular in the field of objects, were for me the means to try to understand human being. A path parallel to philosophy which I later completed with the master’s degree in philosophy of art. Basically I lost a lot of money to do what I liked without accept compromises, but I preferred to enrich my brain instead of my bank account. Telling the entire journey of a life would take too long, but I can say that from the first research objects to the most complex industrial products, my goal has always been knowledge. Designing a polypropylene chair or a helicopter for Hermès doesn’t change much, the intellectual work remains fundamental if you look for the meaning of things and don’t work on the style.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

First of all, a creative mind is a rational mind, the difference with scientific rationality is that it also includes emotion. This reality acts on the perception of the world, and this is what fundamentally interests a creative mind. Furthermore, the ability to decontextualize things and facts from their context allows us to see others and the world itself from another angle, which avoids us falling into the trap of conformism that society imposes on us by default

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

After finishing my studies, I was looking for a job in an international team, a friend passed me an advert by an important French company. I send my CV and I was immediately contacted by the manager for an interview. The only problem was that I didn’t speak French, but since I was born in Belgium, where I only stayed for three years, they surely thought I spoke French. I was very interested in the position as my first real professional experience, so I called a Swiss friend of mine and told her: you have to help me in two weeks I have to speak French, she replied impossible, I told her it’s possible if we prepare a possible interview with questions and answers, thus reducing the words was easy to memorize. I get ready, I did the interview which went very well. After a week they called me back to arrange an interview with the CEO. I tell myself this time I won’t succeed.
The day before the interview before leaving for France, at a Judo competition, I hurt my shoulder, so the next day I left with my arm in a bandage. I arrive at the appointment and I see the CEO coming towards me also with his arm in a bandage, I tell him, pointing to my shoulder: judo, he replies by pointing to his: ski. We shook hands without saying anything else, and I was hired. Moral: determination is the most important thing, it is that attitude that traces the path of a life, and no less fortune helps the bold. I then worked for a year internally at the company and six years as a consultant, my French now became fluent and allowed me to do further studies at the Sorbonne in Paris.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thinkers-consulting.com
• Linkedin: Gabriele Pezzini Creative director
• Other: https://www.gabriele-pezzini.com

Image Credits

01 Drink, glass with straw, for the exhibition ‘ The future of manufacturing’ 2001 by DSM Somos
design gabriele pezzini

02 Sunny day bench, bench for one person and half, for the exhibition ‘ Open your mind’ 2007 by Union company – design gabriele pezzini

03 Hermès helicopter, 2007 for Hermès and Eurocopter – design gabriele pezzini

04 Orion, alluminium luggage, 2009 for Hermès – design gabriele pezzini