Much wow coming…
About

I am a pragmatic dreamer. I like to turn vision into tangible success.



I hyperfocus on branding and digital experiences.

Portrait of Creative Director Gianfranco Fagotto Portrait of Creatve Director Gianfranco Fagotto

I’m a Brand & Digital Designer working at Creative Director level, designing intelligent, emotionally driven systems for global brands.

Of Italian-Ecuadorian origin, I grew up travelling with my parents across Latin America, Africa, and Asia. As a third culture kid, I learned to find home in diversity — a nomadic upbringing that became a crash course in storytelling, empathy, and creativity, and continues to shape how I think and design.

Over the years, I’ve led projects across finance, luxury, and lifestyle. I began my career in Milan, designing for fashion, art, and design magazines — an experience that shaped my eye for composition, typography, and visual storytelling.

I later moved to London, where I worked across aviation and global media — including leading the post-merger rebrand at NetJets, the pioneer of private aviation and a Berkshire Hathaway company, and directing integrated brand campaigns at the Financial Times’ in-house content agency for global clients across finance, technology, lifestyle, and culture.

Today, I work independently and with select agencies as a freelance creative consultant, helping organisations articulate their voice and design coherent, scalable visual systems across platforms.

Principles that guide my work

  • Clarity over noise

    I turn complexity into calm, scalable design systems teams can use and clients can trust.
  • Strategic restraint

    Design earns attention through intent and hierarchy — not decoration or volume.
  • Systems thinking

    Everything is built to evolve: modular components, clear rules, and long-term coherence.
  • Craft with purpose

    Detail is functional — it improves comprehension, experience, and perceived value.
  • Respectful collaboration

    I align stakeholders fast, communicate clearly, and keep delivery moving without drama.

Highlights

  • Future of Humanity Experience at Basel — Art Basel (June 2025)
    Future of Humanity Experience: Redefining Boundaries Through Art, Technology, and Dialogue
    2025 — Switzerland
    Artwork featured in the exhibition during Art Basel
  • Arts & Culture Network
    2024 — UK
    The fantasy cultural year — Interview
  • Creativepool interview — The Creative Odyssey
    Creativepool.com
    2024 — UK
    The Creative Odyssey — #MemberSpotlight interview
  • Red Dot Miami — ArtBoxy Exhibition
    ArtBoxy @ Red Dot Miami
    2023 — USA
    Digital artwork featured during Miami Art Week
  • World Media Group — A Forgotten Treasure
    World Media Creative Vault
    Financial Times × Zenith Watches
    2020 — UK
    A Forgotten Treasure shortlisted finalist (‘Lifestyle, Luxury & Fashion’)
  • 15th Annual Gramercy Institute
    Financial Marketing Strategy Awards — Financial Times × UBS
    2018 — USA
    Transact.ft.com won ‘Best Global Creative Strategy’ + overall ‘Best in Class’
  • DigiDay Awards
    Financial Times × Auriens
    2018 — UK
    Later Life Stories (Series I–III) nominated: “Best Use of Native Advertising” + “Best Branded Content Series”

Experience

  • Freelance Creative Director
    Gianfranco Fagotto Studio
    London & Remote
    JAN 2023 — Present

    Art Director — In-house Content Agency
    Financial Times
    London & Remote
    DEC 2016 — DEC 2022

    Head of Design
    NetJets — A Berkshire Hathaway Company
    London & New York
    AUG 2013 — JAN 2016

    For a detailed resumé, please see my LinkedIn or contact me via email

Selected Clients & Collaborations

  • I’ve worked with international organisations across finance, technology, luxury, aviation, and culture — environments where clarity, trust, and execution matter.
  • Finance & Professional Services
    BlackRock · Morgan Stanley · UBS · Credit Suisse · Lombard Odier · Rabobank · PwC · Boston Consulting Group · Pictet
  • Technology & Innovation
    Amazon Web Services · Google Cloud · Huawei · NTT · Strategia Data Science
  • Luxury, Fashion & Lifestyle
    Patek Philippe · Richard Mille × Ferrari · Graff · Brunello Cucinelli · Piaget Watches · La Prairie · Xerjoff Perfumes · Laurent-Perrier · Seiko · The Macallan · Zenith Watches
  • Aviation & Mobility
    BMW · NetJets (Berkshire Hathaway) · Global Airlines · InsiJets
  • Media, Culture & Publishing
    Financial Times · RCS Corriere della Sera · Prestige Magazine · Kult Magazine · Muse Magazine
  • Travel, Tourism & Institutions
    Saudi Tourism Authority · Singapore Tourism Board · Switzerland Tourism · Turkey Tourism · Invest Qatar
Liz Earle Logo
NetJets Logo
Financial Times Logo
Xerjoff Logo
Global Airlines Logo
Ralph & Russo Logo
Prestige Magazine Logo
Graff Diamonds Logo
Huawei Logo
InsiJets Logo
RCS Media Logo
Muse magazine Logo

Creative R&D

  • Creative R&D
    Creative R&D is an independent space beyond client work — where ideas are tested, disciplines intersect, and new directions emerge. These projects function as a personal laboratory for experimentation, cultural research, and long-term creative development, driven by curiosity, authorship, and intent.
    → Explore Creative R&D
  • MUSIC
    Music is an ongoing area of research in my practice — spanning sound design, electronic composition, and the relationship between technology, emotion, and narrative. I explore music as a structural and emotional system: a medium that shapes atmosphere, memory, and meaning.
    → Listen on SoundCloud

  • VISUAL ART
    Alongside design, I develop original illustration and photographic work, exploring form, composition, and visual storytelling outside brand frameworks. Curated works are represented and distributed through established art and stock platforms, circulating across editorial, commercial, and fine art contexts.
    → Available on:
    Adobe Stock
    ANASAEA
    EyeEM
    Fine Art America
    the Saatchi Art Gallery

Languages

  • Italian
    Spanish
    English
    French
    German (currently A2 level)

What Informs my Work

  • Culture & Meaning
    Art · Design · Philosophy · Music · Photography
  • Systems & Technology
    Artificial Intelligence · Technology · Science
  • Craft & Language
    Luxury & Craftsmanship · Languages
  • Discipline & Performance
    Sport (Tennis & Basketball)
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“Gian combines a sharp eye for detail with a strong understanding of purpose and outcomes. He delivers design that balances beauty and functionality, supporting clear messaging and strong experiences. He’s also a generous collaborator who builds trust and elevates team performance.”
Polo Aristoy - VP Brand & Creative
NetJets
“Gian brings clarity and strategic intent to every project. His ability to translate complex brand challenges into refined, effective design systems makes him a trusted partner, not just a designer. He balances creative ambition with commercial awareness, consistently raising the quality of both thinking and execution.”
Liz Whiu - Managing Director
IM London
“When the FT introduced branded content to their range of commercial opportunities in 2016, Gian was hired to oversee the development of its identity. Since then, he has been responsible for the ideation of countless campaigns, winning praise from stakeholders and clients alike. His innate good taste reflects in his particular predisposition towards luxury campaigns."
Paola Handley - Head of Creative Services
Financial Times
“Gianfranco is a smart, proactive designer and art director who balances creative ambition with commercial needs. From commissioning photographers to shaping visual identities and directing execution, he consistently pushes for stronger results. His work is thoughtful, controlled, and elevates the quality of every project.”
Ravi Mattu - Deputy Asia News Editor
Financial Times
“Over six months, Gian and I partnered on pitches for luxury clients. He brought strong art direction across pre-sale materials, from moodboards defining visual identity to mock-ups that clarified ideas. I valued his calm approach, sharp taste, and genuine understanding of the luxury sector throughout.”
Pip Usher - Luxury Content Director
Financial Times
“Gian is a dedicated and highly collaborative designer and art director. Over several years he brought clear direction, strong commercial thinking, and consistently smart ideas. He’s reliable, constructive, and creatively ambitious, delivering polished solutions that feel innovative, considered, and on-brief.”
Emma Hicks - Design Director
Longitude