Born in Turin in 1950, Paola Navone is one of the prominent Italian designers. A free spirit, she left her hometown early, seeking creative freedom. After graduating in architecture from the Turin Polytechnic in 1973 with a thesis on Radical Architecture, she caught the attention of Alessandro Mendini, who introduced her to the world of avant-garde design. She joined the Alchimia group, collaborating with influential figures like Ettore Sottsass and Andrea Branzi. Navone’s career took off, with her winning the Osaka International Design Award in 1983 and consulting for global organizations like UNIDO and the World Bank. Her extensive travels to the Far East led her to open an office in Hong Kong. In 1988, she began a lasting collaboration with Gervasoni, where she now serves as artistic director. Known for her eclectic and visionary style, Navone blends Southern colors and flavors with Western forms, creating designs that are both rooted in tradition and ever-evolving. Today, she continues her work from her Milan-based Studio Otto.