Anna and Gian Franco Gasparini

Italian designers Anna and Gian Franco Gasparini work across product design and the communication that surrounds it. Gian Franco studied architecture in Florence and later taught industrial design at ISIA Florence. He also founded and directed the Università del Progetto in Reggio Emilia for twelve years, an interdisciplinary school dedicated to design and communication. In 2002, Anna and Gian Franco established Architettura della Comunicazione, a studio focused on design projects and the processes through which they are presented and understood. Their objects bring ingenuity and a touch of humor to familiar rituals. For Alessi, they designed the Sbriciola bread board and K-Block knife block, both built around practical storage and everyday use. Their collaboration with Coltellerie Berti includes Veglia, a hammer-shaped nutcracker held in a wooden stand, and Appennino, a compact tool created for scoring chestnuts. Across these designs, simple kitchen tasks become more intuitive, engaging, and convivial.