Contributor

Marianne Lardilleux is a French architect who graduated from the École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture in Versailles. After working in architecture studios, she started her retail design career at Louis Vuitton in 2010. Within the LVMH group, in 2012 she transitioned to Céline where, among other achievements, she spearheaded the implementation of the brand's new store design concept with the Mount Street flagship in London. 

CEO of Fondazione Altagamma since 2013, she is a member of the executive team and coordinates the Foundation's activities. 

Beatrice Leanza is a cultural strategist, curator and critic with a background in Asian studies who was based in Beijing for 17 years. She served as executive director of maat – Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology, Lisbon, creative director of Beijing Design Week, and co-founded The Global School, the first independent institute for interdisciplinary creative research established in the PRC.

Zhang Lei is using contemporary design language to redefine traditional materials and handicrafts. Co-founded the non-profit organization róng design library and  PINWU Studio with Christoph John and Jovana Zhang, led systematic study of the material system of traditional Chinese handicrafts, and promoted contemporary design applying traditional materials.  15 years ago , they met in Milan SaloneSatellite Exhibition. And then came to Hangzhou China in 2010 to make in-depth research of Chinese traditional handicrafts and to translate them through designs in their own ways.

Architect, born in 1977, he founded Francesco Librizzi Studio, an architecture and design atelier, in 2005.

He has created installations for the Venice Architecture Biennale, the Milan Triennale, “Foto/Industria” Biennial of Photography of Industry and Work in Bologna and the Marche Regional Museum of Palazzo Ducale in Urbino.

He was born in 1953 in Milan, where he lives and works. Alongside his professional work as a contemporary art photographer, he has also been a conceptual artist since the 80s, exploring the meaning of language, documented by exhibitions and publications. He has been the curator of his grandfather Gio Ponti’s archive since the 90s and has devoted himself to furthering the knowledge of his work, setting up the important Gio Ponti Archives database.

Piero Lissoni is architect, art director and designer and is recognized as one of the masters of contemporary design.

He possesses an almost forty-year history in the development of projects the world over in the fields of architecture, landscape, interior, product and graphic design. He is also art director for Alpi, Boffi, Living Divani, Lualdi, Porro and Sanlorenzo.

Professor Lesley Lokko OBE is the Founder and Chair of the African Futures Institute (AFI) headquartered in Accra, Ghana and Director of the Nomadic African Studio; an annual

A journalist who has been at the forefront of the transformation of journalism in the digital era for over thirty years. He was born in Rome in 1965, and wrote for the daily newspaper La Repubblica for fifteen years. Specialising in topics linked to technological innovation and the internet, he was the first director of the Italian edition of Wired and backed the candidature of the Internet for the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize.

Born Missoula, Montana. Eagle Scout.

Founded by Ma Yansong in 2004, MAD Architects is led by Ma Yansong, Dang Qun, and Yosuke Hayano. It is committed to developing futuristic, organic, technologically advanced designs that embody a contemporary interpretation of the Eastern affinity for nature. With a vision for the city of the future based in the spiritual and emotional needs of residents, MAD endeavors to create a balance between humanity, the city, and the enviroment. MAD's projects encompass urban planning, urban complexes, municipal buildings, museums, theaters, concert halls, and housing, as well as art and design.

Adrian Madlener is a Brussels-born, New York-based art, architecture, and design writer. A designer-turned-journalist, he studied at the Design Academy Eindhoven and the Parsons / Cooper Hewitt History of Design and Curatorial Studies programme. Madlener has worked as an editor at Frame magazine, TL magazine, and The Architect’s Newspaper. With a particular focus on topics that demonstrate the best in craft-led experimentation, sustainability, and, he has contributed to numerous European and U.S.

Architect with a PhD in Design, Stefano Maffei is Full Professor at the School of Design of the Politecnico di Milano, where he teaches Advanced Product–Service System and Service Design. Rector's Delegate for Social Innovation. He is the Director of Polifactory, the Fab Lab/Maker Space of the Politecnico di Milano. He also directs the Masters in Specialization in Service Design and Design For Food, POLI.design, Politecnico di Milano. He was awarded the 22nd Compasso d’Oro ADI (Associazione per il Disegno Industriale) Award for his design research with Design Research Maps (2011).

Sara Magni graduated in Stage Design from the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera, and went on to do a master’s at the Istituto Italiano di Fotografia. She is interested in spaces and colour, and in the interaction between people and places. Her work ranges from architecture to design and portraiture. She works primarily for corporations and publishing. In her personal projects, she likes to use her gaze to catalogue, preferring an approach based on repetition, and the use of sometimes theatrical lighting.  

About Cherine Magrabi Tayeb – Professionally

A natural entrepreneur and businesswoman, Cherine Magrabi Tayeb brings together her creativity, specialized knowledge in design, and her business sense to every project she undertakes. With an academic background in art and design, Cherine has become an avid collector, but is also a proactive contributor and key player on the arts & design scenes internationally and has served on judge panels as well as being on the council of many prestigious international museums and design institutions over the years.