Filippo Spiezia

Award Winning Art Director and Visual Designer elevating the art of storytelling formerly as Senior Interaction Designer at Second Story Interactive Studios, part of SapientNitro in Portland, OR.

For many years, I’ve been pushing the boundaries of graphic, digital, interactive, and multimedia design. Working in Italy, UK and USA, I’ve owned and operated several design studios, served as Art Director on projects for Fortune 500 companies, and served as Creative Director on multiple award-winning websites. I have received many accolades over the course of my career, and my work has been recognized by national and international design awards and publications including Awwwards, The FWA, Communication Arts, IxDA, Red Dot, CSS Awards, IDEA, Print Annual. In 2002, I was named distinguished member of the Digital Hall of Fame by EFX Art & Design and in 2012 was honored to receive the 2012 "Professional of the Year" Award from Italian Web Awards (PWI).

10 questions for Filippo Spiezia:

• What did you do before becoming a designer?

  I grew up with a passion for drawing, colors, and the desire to do something creative from scratch, I've always loved experimenting. I was basically trying to figure out what to do.

• Where do you turn for inspiration?

  Traveling. Music. Exhibitions. Surfing the web.

• Which are your favorite studios, designers or agencies?

  Second Story. Hello Monday. Fantasy Interactive. Unit9. Onur Senturk.

• Is your city a good place for designers?

  I have traveled a lot for work. I would say the United States continue to be the best place for opportunities and for learning and expressing creativity. Italy, my home country, still offers the best quality of life. I am looking for a balance.

• Which technologies are you excited about in 2015?

  I am extremely excited by the Internet of things, how to integrate digital storytelling into responsive environments, creating immersive experiences for audience.

• Do you listen to music while you work? Describe your playlist.

  I need quiet & beautiful sounds around me while concentrating - a mix of lounge, chill-out and soundtracks. Check out my favorite playlist here.

• What are you cultural influences? (Music, books, films, ideologies, etc.)

  In Italy we have lots of top-notch designers, in any field. My eclecticism over time has come from diverse work/life experiences. Those experiences have led me to encounter different people, food, music, places and arts, and helped me to explore a broad range of styles, from the most profuse and colorful to the clean and minimalistic, while still seeking communication as a lowest common denominator. Be it a poster, a website or a responsive environment.

• Have you got an academic background or are you self taught?

  Definitely self taught. I am driven by passion, learning from every-day experience. And still do.

• What do you do in your free time?

  Cooking. Networking. Instagramming. Instagram.com/filippopsr

• Where do you see the industry in 5 years?

  I firmly believe in the positive development of the activities related to the development and application of digital innovative technologies, in fields and ways much closer to the practical life. To simplify the experience and improve daily life where possible, not complicate it. I want to be a leading innovator of this positive digital revolution.

• Are you working on any personal projects?

  Yep, I am currently involved in several personal projects in Italy and the United States. Right now I want to contribute in the digital rebirth of my country without necessarily losing the opportunities that only a country like America has to offer, where I was able to build a network of relationships and activities extremely exciting.

• If you could give one piece of advice to newbie designers, what would it be?

  I always like to quote the final words by Steve Jobs: “stay hungry, stay foolish”. To me, every single word of that speech is a sort of a commandment. Never stop, always love what you do; identify your own style and pursue it; if you find it, evolve it.