Luca Sgarbossa
Luca Sgarbossa is the Logodesign and System of Signs and Interior Design professor at IED that hails from Ivrea, the city of I.T.. Although his young age may suggest otherwise, he has worked as Art Director and/or Project Manager for many a companies you have probably heard of- Barilla, Levi’s, La Stampa, Sky Sport, Indiset, and I SPIRIT VODKA, just to name a few.
His current activities apart from teaching and collaborating with renown artists and designers, is working as a consultant. We could say his talents could have blossomed in university -and that’s where the irony strikes. He attended IED not only as a professor, but as a student as well. Here is a quick interview with Professor Sgarbossa, the multi-tasking IED bred talent, presented by Design42Day.
1. You initially graduated from IED (Turin) with a cum laude in Graphics on a scholarship, and subsequently attended a course in Digital Illustration at the same School. What influenced you in choosing IED as a your school of choice, and did it fulfil the expectations you had?
I entered the competition, announced by the school itself, for the assignment of a scholarship. I won and here I am. In some way, we chose each other. I wanted to attend IED since I was in my fourth year of high school. I have always been fascinated by the idea of a place where different profiles, operating in various fields of an high level of creativity, can work together so closely. In order to give me an incentive to do my job better I am always looking for an interaction between different profiles.
2. How did you enter the realm of Art Direction after your studies?
During my studies I started to work for some companies and no-profit associations. The collaboration is the core of my work. In order to realize the commissioned works, I immediately started to look for photographers, illustrators and designers as I have always believed in the exchange of ideas. Then, after having taken my degree, thanks to the Job placement service by IED, I had several job interviews in Turin and Milan. In July 2007, I accepted the job offered by Between Comunicazione.
3. What interested you the most about your job at Between Comunicazione and what important lessons did you learn whilst working there?
In Between Comunicazione I improved my knowhow because I could see the evolution of the works from the beginning to the end. I got used to manage every step of the work, from creativity, to production and presentation to clients. This gave me consciousness but also the basic professional skills.
4. What were the reasons you left the agency, and how did you choose to make the ‘risky’ choice of becoming a freelancer?
My life has always been influenced by “hard” decisions. After two years in ITIS technical school, I chose to follow my real passion. I wasn’t very good in painting disciplines so I moved to Art&Design course at Liceo Scientifico in Caluso, far away from my home. My alarm rang at 5,45 every morning; As I was feeling so good I decided to attend again my fifth year of school. With the same spirit, some years later, when I felt that I had the right skills for following a client, I decided to use them. I am not a person who likes taking a leap into the unknown, but if you stay at your own desk, you will never grow!
5. You freelanced, and then went back to working in a collaboration with Independent Ideas as Art Director and Project Manager, to then go back to freelancing. How did you see your goals evolve throughout these career changes, and what do you say, in retrospect, was the most valuable lesson you learned through these experiences?
We have the opportunity to do a ‘human’ job: we are not numbers. Our skills and qualities give us the possibility to be appreciated. Seeing various situations from different points of view make you grow a lot. If you are a qualified person, you do not have to give up learning. This will give you the possibility to choose the place and people you want to work with.
6. How did you end back up in IED, this time as a professor, and why did you choose to enter teaching?
I enthusiastically accepted the offer to hold the Logodesign IED Turin course. Initially, I thought I achieved a goal, an appreciation of my skills. Teaching forces me to broaden and organize my knowledge as well as possible in order to transmit it. At present, I am also professor of Interior Design and of Professional Master in Sustainability Communication at IED. This give me also the chance to face realities that are close to mine, and meet people that have undertaken different career paths.
7. You are now a consultant and creative communications director for EDF ENR Solare Italia. What do you think was the most rewarding part of your career?
Yes, EDF ENR Solare is one of my main clients. Since I have built a good relationship with the communication office, I have the opportunity to work in complete freedom. I always try to surround me with high-level suppliers and professional people, trying to learn and creating a good environment. My greatest satisfaction is to have the respect and the trust of people I work with.
