The Icons of Creativity initiative by Orientbell Tiles seeks to highlight the journey of some of the world’s most innovative entrepreneurs. Even though these entrepreneurs work in diverse sectors, they all have one thing in common: hard work, ambition and a desire to go the extra mile.<\/p>\n
This time, we brought architect Paola Navone\u2019s life and work into focus. Navone was born in Turin and is a Milan-based architect who has been thriving in the field for as far as we can remember.<\/p>\n
She has been leading from the front with her prolific and eye-catching designs. The unique, refreshing and magnificent pieces that she has created speak for themselves and her genius. Navone is not just an architect, she\u2019s a full package when it comes to this field. She\u2019s a brilliant product designer, an interior decorator par excellence, and an unmatched art director.<\/p>\n
Born in 1950, Paola studied architecture at the engineering university in her hometown, the Polytechnic University of Turin. She travelled to Africa before linking up with Italian designer and architect Alessandro Mendini, back home.<\/p>\n
She received the prestigious Osaka International Design Award for Abet Laminati in 1983. She was only supposed to submit one design, but she ended up submitting 50 because she couldn’t choose just one. This exemplifies her professional ethic and dedication to her career. She has worked with Crate & Barrel and Anthropologie later in her career.<\/p>\n
She went on to work as a consultant in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, on the behalf of UNEDA, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the World Bank. Her current work includes designs for heavyweights such as Dryade, Casa Milano, Polyform, Rokeboboa Iglesia, Baxter, Habitat, Natuzzi, Creighton Barrell. And these are just few of the names she is associated with.<\/p>\n
Since 1988, she has majorly handled art direction and been a creator of exhibitions all around the world. Apart from the prestigious Osaka International Design award in 1983, she was also named the Designer of the year in the year 2000 by the magazine\u00a0Architecture<\/em>\u00a0and Wonen<\/em>. She won the El Decor International Design awards in 2011 and 2018. In 2014, she got inducted into the Interior Design Magazine\u2019s prestigious Hall Of Fame.<\/p>\n In this conversation with Orientbell Tiles<\/a>, Paola shares her story of her nature as a rebel, her determination, and her experiences in architecture. Here is a sneak peek into the conversation:<\/p>\n