Design Careers with Fabrizio Cocchiarella

Work In Design

Today I’m lucky to be joined by not only a designer but a degree and masters level educator. This is an important episode as we’ll get some perspective from working as a designer and also some insight into design education after school.
Fabrizio Cocchiarella, Fab as most people call him studied design right through to Master’s level at the Royal College of Art in London before going on to work for various companies in the space of interior design, retail design, and furniture design. Fab then moved on to work at the Manchester Metropolitan University. He has lead the 3-dimensional design degree course and is currently a Senior lecturer on the masters level interiors program.
I’ve known Fab for a very long time and regard him as one of the most creative people I know. I’m really interested to hear his perspective on how to go about turning creativity into a job.
I’m Kieron Bakewell, the host and founder of Work In Design. I’ve worked as a designer since 2003. In 2005 I co-founded the furniture company naughtone. My skills and passions are predominantly in design, although I have picked up business skills along the way!

During 2020 in my role as design director at naughtone, I was prompted to look at the diversity within the design department at naughtone. Ultimately it was not a diverse group. I did not consider this intentional, rather a more accurate representation of those actually applying for roles in design. This got me thinking more broadly about how anyone finds their way into design careers?

Working in design has been immensely rewarding for me on so many levels. The people, travel, challenges and feeling like you can make a change and contribute in a meaningful way.

If I can, I’d now like to help others find their way into and enjoy this fantastic vocation. Hopefully they’ll help solve tomorrow’s problems along the way.
Visit workindesign.co.uk
https://www.art.mmu.ac.uk/ Manchester School of Art