Tuesday 13 December, 6.30pm
The Made in Italy brand has established itself internationally thanks to a winning mix of style, exceptional manufacturing, aesthetics, family tradition but also innovation and technology. Many companies have contributed to strengthening its value with products and services of the highest quality, among other things representing a vast spectrum of sectors such as food, fashion, furniture, automotive, engineering, research, tourism.
The reputation of Made in Italy has often been way stronger than economic instability and competition from markets with cheaper products – which, very often, are also its main customers.
But what is the perception of Made in Italy today? Is it still an added value for businesses? How has it evolved over time and does it still have the same original meaning for the new generations?
The talk, curated and moderated by Daniel Gava, aims to explore its current state and to understand the future of one of the perhaps most famous labels in the world, through the personal experience of two distinguished guests, acclaimed British designer Bethan Laura Wood and Head of Ferrari North Europe Francesco Balli.
Bethan Laura Wood obtained a MA in Design Products at the Royal College of Art, under the tuition of Jurgen Bey and Martino Gamper. Since 2011 she has worked with the prestigious Nilufar Gallery to showcase her self-directed, limited edition and one-off works. Bethan has been commissioned by and produced named collaborations with a variety of international partners including: Perrier–Jouët, Rosenthal, Abet Laminati, Moroso, Valextra, Kvadrat, Bitossi Ceramiche, Design Miami, Tory Burch, CC-Tapis, Tolix Peter Pilotto, Hermes and Dior. Her work has been exhibited in institutions including: Victoria and Albert Museum; Swiss Institute New York; Daelim Museum, Seoul; Museum of Contemporary Art, MOT, Tokyo; ICA London and the Design Museum London.
Francesco Balli is Head of Ferrari North Europe, the UK subsidiary for Ferrari SpA, a position he has held since January 2014. He started his professional career in 2001 as an intern at Porsche Italy, before joining Ferrari the following year as the Sales and Marketing Assistant for the Italian market. Francesco took on a variety of roles during his time at Ferrari, and soon progressed to Regional Manager for the Italian market. In 2008, he relocated to Paris to manage the Ferrari South West Europe region, which covers from Belgium until Morocco including France. After 6 years as Regional Manager, he then moved to become head of one of Ferrari’s most important and influential markets, the UK.
Daniel Gava has more than twenty-five years of professional experience in the design industry and has been employed in key roles within the departments of marketing, PR, sales and board of directors in well-known international high-end furniture manufacturers. He lived and worked in Italy, Spain, United States and since 2011 he is based in London where he currently works as an independent board advisor assisting top companies and designers grow their brand and business. Daniel is Design Patron of the Design Museum, Affiliate Member of the Royal Institute of British Architects and Ambassador of the London School of Architecture. He has been nominated Testimonial for the Italian Design Day 2022 by the Italian Consulate in Manchester.