Fabio Benedetti is a creative Italian Designer and design-enthusiast. He moved to the UK in 2007 after studying Languages and Humanities Computing at University of Pisa in Tuscany. He is now working as Interactive Designer at Thinkology, which is an Exeter-based creative agency.
In the evening he does some freelance or personal works and in 2009 he also created the new illustration brand cocorino. Recently, he has been doing work for a wide range of clients, including BT, Google, Bovey Castle, Intel, PenCarrieUKL, Mercedes Benz, Steria, LSH. Lovely Devon, in the South West of England, has been his home for three years now. We spent five minutes catching up with Fabio...
Tell us about yourself – who are you and what do you do?
My name is Fabio Benedetti and I am a creative Italian designer, who loves vynil toys, strictly drinks espresso and has a recently-developed überpassion for fixed gear bikes. Oh, and I am crazy about design, of course. During the day, I work as an interactive designer at Thinkology - a creative agency based in Exeter - but when the night falls, I do my own projects which are mainly focused on illustration. This is considering that I work on interactive stuff on a daily basis and I like to touch on different topics. In 2009, in my spare time, I also created a new illustration-based brand, named cocorino.
What are you currently up to? Are there any exciting projects ongoing?
I have just finished a redesign of my portfolio and I can honestly say that was quite a feat alone: it took up to 6 months to come up with and implement the new design, code and photography. Plus the copy, of course. Apart from that, I am currently working on some seriously cool branding project for my day job, something that I hope I will post on my blog very soon. It’s a new identity for a women-led business with a quirky look and feel.
Who or what inspires you?
I always get inspired by 2.0 pixel-perfect websites, cute character illustration and amazing and clever typography. As I am Italian, I always tend to be influenced by my country and arts, sun, happiness and easy-going lifestyle, and I really hope that shows in my work.
What’s your best project/work to date?
It's a tricky one to say! Well, the media range I deal with is quite a wide one, so pigeonholing that is not easy; but possibly, some of the best work I have done so far are the projects for a young but thriving translation agency, Rainy London. The brand is fresh and modern, plus the manager really gave me a blank canvas to work on and develop my creativity. Last Christmas, we went for a character design Christmas card, which I really enjoyed working on. (See pics below)
Anything new going on? Or in the pipeline?
It would be great to develop cocorino even further and bring the brand to the next level, introducing more merchandising and not limiting myself to characters. I can't really tell right now, but I hope more time will come my way to allow me do that. In the office I have recently developed an iPad magazine so that must be added to the list. And last but not least, I bought a new camera last December, inevitably I find myself more and more into photography too!
When you’re not working, what do you like to do?
I work all the time :P Let’s be serious, I like hand-drawing and reading illustration and design magazines. But I am into sports too: I like boxing, running, and well... my newest fixation are... fixed gear bikes! I also built one with custom parts and all, but I haven't been using it much for now, I wait for sunnier days!
Finally, what tips or advice could you give to other creatives, just starting out?
I would certainly say I'm no super expert, but I'd suggest to always work hard and try to constantly develop your skills - which is what I'm doing now! After all, life is the journey, not the destination.
