Alessandro Franchini
A multilingual, Creative Executive with international experience, Alessandro has defined his career by helping build successful brands through clear and focused vision, strategic design planning, strong team management skills and in-depth industry knowledge and trend foresight.
Previously, Alessandro was a full-time consultant to Natuzzi in Italy, the country’s largest furniture manufacturer and retailer. As Director of Brand Communications, his role was to direct and evolve the brand communications, marketing and creative direction of the in-house Creative Lab team that designs and produces all communications programs worldwide through website, video, print, in-store and PR executions.
As Vice President of Creative at Crate&Barrel, the preeminent home furnishings retailer founded in 1962, Alessandro launched the in-house Creative group in 1988 and for 25 years was responsible for the creative development and brand/marketing direction of all corporate identity materials, advertising, catalogs, website, private label packaging, store graphics and signage.
In 2000, Crate&Barrel launched a new retail/online brand, CB2, to address the modern, style-driven home furnishings consumer market. Alessandro and his team were responsible for brand naming, development and evolution of all design, marketing and communications elements.
In 2009, the AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts) honored Crate&Barrel with the first-ever Corporate Design Leadership Award. Among the fourteen nominees were Motorola, United Airlines, Boeing, Herman Miller, Steelcase, McDonald’s and The Art Institute of Chicago.
Prior to joining Crate&Barrel, Alessandro’s design experience includes senior positions at GFP near Venice, Italy; Vignelli Associates, Bonnell Design Associates, Arnell Bickford Associates and Franchini+Cabana Design, all in New York City.
Unquestionably, the most significant and meaningful experiences that initiated and molded Alessandro's career, were working under the tutelage of Giulio Cittato in Venice and subsequently Massimo Vignelli in New York. Lifelong mentors and friends, they both left an indelible influence on Alessandro's vision and approach to design.
Born in Rome, Italy, Alessandro was raised in Chicago, where he currently lives with his wife Fernanda and daughter, Chiara.