Federico is happiest where intuition, business and technology intersect. He believes that the best design is the one that dissolves into behaviours and that questions are often longer-lasting than answers.
He is the Head of Milan Experience Design Centre of Haier, the number one company globally in major appliances and the most valuable IoT ecosystem brand in the world. With his team he supervises, choreographs and envisions meaningful multi-categories experiences for Haier, Hoover and Candy.
He was the Founder and Head of Milan Design Innovation Center for Midea, a Fortune 500 Company with one of the most comprehensive ranges in the home appliance industry.
Federico is the former Managing Director of Continuum, one of the leading global design innovation consultancies at the beginning of the century where for more than 12 years he played a key role in leading both tactical and strategic innovation programs helping to wrap business scenarios around people's desires and dreams. He had excelled in the creation of innovative and meaningful concepts, products and services solutions for international clients such as Allsteel, Bic, Ceres, GM, NEC, Fastweb, Haier, Illy, Imetec, BTicino, Unilever, I-Robot, Medela, 3M, Sennheiser and Samsung.
Prior to joining Continuum Milan Federico co-founded uno : uno designers studio, testing a simplified approach to product design and exploring the boundaries between process and persuasion with Italian companies and startup such as Moleskine, Artsana, Piaggio and OneTray.
Previously he was Associate Creative Director at Frog, leading the ID team and focusing at the convergence of product design and digital interaction. In 1998 he started his design career as toy designer for Mattel- FischerPrice.
Federico is an experienced lecturer on product design and design innovation matters, with participations to various educational venues. He conducted panels, conferences and design thinking workshop for companies and institutions around the world.
He’s currently the Scientific Coordinator of the the 1st Level Master in Innovation Strategy & Product in IED Milan, a professional faculty member at Bocconi EMiLUX, guest speaker at Bocconi MAFED and guest lecturer at Master in Design Engineering at Politecnico.
Federico holds a Bachelor of Industrial Design degree from IED Milan.
Upcoming Talks
20 May 2025
This session explores the adaptation of the RenDanHeYi model to enhance agile methodologies within European product teams at Haier. This session will delve into the structured transformation of this unique organisational philosophy, originally developed in China, and its application in the fast-paced European market, with a focus on the home appliance sector.
Aliki will provide an in-depth analysis of the practical steps taken to integrate the RenDanHeYi model with modern team frameworks and the building out of the Milan Design Centre to foster innovation and collaboration. They will discuss the specific tools and processes implemented to streamline product development and improve outcomes, highlighting the cultural adjustments needed to align with European team dynamics and market expectations.
Key Learnings:
Customisation of the RenDanHeYi Model: Understand how Haier has tailored this traditional Chinese organizational model to fit the needs of diverse and dynamic European teams
Organizational Transformation: Learn about the frameworks and methods adopted (and those not adopted) by Haier to drive transformation at scale and achieve superior product outcomes
Case Study - Milan Design Centre: Gain insights into the specific changes made in the design centre's structure and operations, and the measurable improvements in team performance and product innovations.
Applying Lessons to Your Teams: Federico will share actionable strategies and tools that participants can adapt to enhance their own organisational frameworks and team structures.
