Paolo Zani
Italy
Born in Cesena, Italy in 1960. Presently lives and works in Milan. Graduated from the I.S.I.A. in Faenza (Institute for Arts and Industrial Design) in 1986. In 1987 graduated with the Masters Degree in Industrial Design from Domus Academy, Milan. As an independent designer he has designed ceramic tiles (Marazzi, Ascot, Gabbianelli), hi-fi accessories (Ross El.), porcelain tableware (Winterling and Bareuther, Cierre accessories), wall to wall carpets (Louis de Poortere), eyewear (Optyl Holding), chairs (V. Bonacina, Kristalia), cutlery (Lagostina, Sant'Andrea), home furniture (Schopenhauer), light fittings (Arbos, Lumen Center, Candle, Fontana Arte), kitchen accessories and tableware (Fissler, Cierre accessories), carpets (Moroso), mobile phones (Fujitsu). He also collaborated in developing office seatings (Artifort and Steelcase Strafor), light fittings (Lumiance), home appliances (SanGiorgio), writing instruments, watches and leather accessories (Mont Blanc). In 1992, he established a collection of contemporary carpets and rugs manufactured in India. Both these collections are manufactured by local weavers, handknotted according to traditional techniques now distributed worlwide by Moroso. He collaborated as Art Director and corporate graphic designer for Lumen Center an Italian manufacturer of light fittings. With Alessi he collaborated to the project and the book La Cintura di Orione. Since 2001 he is art director and chief designer of Cierre accessories, Italian manufacturer of kitchen accessories and tableware. Exhibitions and competitions; 1984 Project of a table lamp mentioned at the Staff Preis Design Competition, Design , Stuttgart, Germany. 1985 Prize Ladys headphones Competition, Ross Electronics, England. 1985 5 o clock tea time Exhibition of designer's teapots, Lu Austoni Gallery, Milan. 1986 Mexidesign Contest Louis de Poortere, Domus, Snia Fibre, Milan. 1986 Hallo Mr. Toby Exhibition of designer jugs, Lu Austoni Gallery, Milan. 1988 Piatto Matto Exhibition of designer ceramic plates, Lu Austoni Gallery, Milan. 1989 International Design Association, Axis Center, Tokyo. 1989 Prize for Interno e Intorno, Prospects of colour and decor in home environment. 1989 Competion Louis de Poortere, Snia Fibre. Milan. 1990 Design Balneare 3 Exhibition in Cattolica. 1991 United Distillers Design Competition Accessories for Dimple Whisky, Milan-Hamburg. 1992 Warli 9 carpets in a show Exhibition at Shed, Milan. 1997 1 deg Biennale d'Arte Ceramica. Spezzano 2000, iMade Material innovation in the Italian furniture industry. Milan's Furniture Fair 2001, 3 deg Prize Macef with 'Fleurs' porcelain tableware for Cierre accessories 2002. 2 deg Prize Macef with Ellipse wooden bowl for Cierre accessories. Teaching experiences: 1989 Seminar on Italian Design from the 80 at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, India. 1998 Visiting Professor at the Kent Institute of Art and Design Rochester, England. 2000 Visiting Professor at the National College of Arts and Design, Dublin, EIRE. 2001 Visiting Professor at Kuopio Academy of Design, Finland. Since 1995 he has been tutoring for the Industrial Design course at Faenza. Since 2001 he has been teaching History of Design at Istituto Europeo di Design, Dept. Of Visual Communication, Milan.
