STEFANO RUSSO

Stefano Russo was born in Sicily in 1969.
Once finished high school he moved to Rome
where he studied at the Academy of Fashion and Costume Design, winning numerous competitions and scholarships. He graduated with full marks and left Rome to move to Milan. Initially Stefano collaborated with some important jewellery and eyewear production companies, but soon he felt the need to give life to an independent, creative and experimental laboratory. In 1994 he founded “Russo Design” a family-run company which mainly deals with the designing of eyewear, jewellery and watches, but that also extends to areas such as photo/design and artistic installations. This allowed Russo Design to exhibit in several galleries. Stefano Russo is an artist of multiple interests who balances his vital equilibrium between art and design. An eclectic mind that avails itself of multidirectional research as well as of the diverse, growing scenarios. His concept of design is based on the study of innovative materials such as nanotechnology, synesthesia, multisensoriality, fashion and costume so as to obtain perfectly balanced results between aesthetics and functionality, between visual and sensitive impact. In art the core orbits around the body, the senses and perceptions of conscious productions. In 1992, Stefano collaborated with the great artist Arman, disassembling his musical instruments in order to create unusual jewel-sculptures that became a limited and numbered edition destined to most prestigious art galleries. From 1992 to 1994, Stefano designed jewellery for Favero and Gemma Gioielli. In 1993 he won the “Diamond Award” competition with the “Vortex” diamond ring, designed for De Beers. In 1993 the eyewear brand “Diablo” was launched where he created from the logo to the relative advertising campaign. In 1994 he presented “Magma Mutante”, creations made of jute, plaster and colour at the Farnese Roma gallery and in 1995 at Country House in Pavia. Between 1997 and 1999, Stefano collaborated with Swatch that had assigned him the task to design metal watches. Amongst the best sellers, he invented the iron double cuff and Skin Pave. In 1999 he worked on the launch of Celine and Loewe eyewear. From 2000 to 2008 the Prada Group offers Stefano a position as Eyewear Creative Director. The brand “Linea Rossa” was launched. The well-known “Freedom” sunglass was purposely invented and studied for the team members of the “Luna Rossa” boat. For this particular sunglass special lenses that adapt to the variations of climate and temperature are used. He subsequently launched the brand Miu Miu. Apart from designing collections, Stefano has also worked alongside Miuccia Prada during fashion shows. Amongst his creations are the “Butterfly” sunglass designed for Miu Miu and the “Multilens” sunglass for the Prada catwalk, inspired by the glass windows of gothic cathedrals. During his work experience, Stefano has also worked with Helmut Lang and Jil Sander. In 2001 he presented the project “Sogno e Volo” at the cultural association ‘Spazio Consolo associazione culturale Countdown’. In 2003, he took care of the launch of ‘Emporio Armani’ jewellery and the relative advertising campaign, and ‘Giorgio Armani’ for leather accessories. In 2006 during the Salone del Mobile in Milan he presented “Visioner” at Rotonda della Besana. Stefano Russo alternates his work as a designer and an artist to teaching in important institutes and design schools such as Politecnico University, IED and Domus Accademy where in 2005 he held a workshop on languages, shapes and evolutions of design with the brand Breil. He presently lives between Milan and Paris, collaborating with the Louis Vuitton brand and at the same time are developing a project art/science.