2024

Hi, I’m Ignacio D’Avola. _

Nice to meet you.

_ Pure curiosity is my main driver. Some OCDs. A pinch of useful ingenuity. And most importantly, great people around. That happened to be an amazing combination for someone that basically solves problems for a living.

A constant hunger for learning and sharing experiences, putting myself in others’ shoes and being persistent took me where I’m now.

Umeå

Aalto

Power to the people.

Far from romantic, I believe experiences outweigh mere assets. But to foster those, collaboration between business, technology and users is critical.

Neither a brand advocate nor a user envoy, I facilitate decision-making between stakeholders to create valuable and lasting solutions. Identifying real needs based on research, spotting market opportunities and providing technically and commercially viable answers: speaking other team’s language is an advantage I’ve acquired over the years.

Strategic Thinking

Tailoring unique solutions for business growth

Empathic Approach

Co-creating real solutions

Management

Leading cross-functional teams and building capabilities

Walking the talk.

I am usually described as a hands-on person. Results driven and process oriented, I balance my analytical and technical skills with a passionate approach. Basically I make by making.

I consider myself a hybrid designer, with an user-centred approach, a keen eye for details and an unstoppable desire to bring solutions, digital and physical alike.

McNeel Rhinoceros Expert user

Luxion Keyshot Expert user

PTC Creo Advanced user

Adobe CC Expert user

Procreate Expert user

RhinoCAM / MeshCAM Advanced user

Under my belt.

Forthelast15yearsI’vebeenworkingatamazingagencies,companiesanduniversities. I’veevensurvivedrunningmyownbusiness!

All those experiences allowed me to build and share my own perspective, broadening my expertise from product-focusedto strategy-oriented, from being thought to teach, from being ledtolead.Nextyou’llfindsomeofthemostrecentprojectsI’vebeeninvolvedin.

iF Design Awards 2016 / 2018

Pentawards 2008 / 2017

A’ Design Awards 2014 / 2016

Red Dot Awards 2016 / 2017

ITDP Sustainable Transport 2014 UK Disaster Response Fund 2018

Step by step. _

Beyond prosthesis.

The challenge. Redefining a company’s vision isn’t a matter of imposing, but convincing. As Lead of Össur’s newly formed Design Center, my ambition is to emphasise the importance of an user-centred approach in a heavily tech-oriented industry.

By highlighting the strategic benefits of such approach, I’m guiding the company on a new journey: transforming from a mere component supplier, to a complete solution provider,

Beyond prosthesis.

Well-being, done well.

Digital healthcare.

The challenge. As part of Withings acquisition, Nokia design team decided to run a series of short and long term vision projects in order to scout for new markets, by the time we were also strengthening our position as a user-centred company.

Digital healthcare.

A continuous journey. Working alongside our internal engineering teams and health partners, we built “Phase zero” projects meant to redefine the portfolio planning of the company. Focusing on the experience, HW and SW were jointly tackled, building platforms that spanned from preventive health to patient care cases.

Portfolio was strategically focused following our core values, turning the re-branding process seamless. By the time new fields were explored, IP was generated as key baseline for future developments and licensing purposes.

More than meets the eye. _

OZO.

_ The challenge. Nokia is globally known for disruptive developments, and OZO is one of those.

Our main challenge was developing an user-centred and case-sensitive solution for an unexplored market such as VR, as part of Nokia’s return to consumer devices.

OZO.

Approach. By exhaustively following media experts, we learnt how the whole industry worked. They helped us pinpoint an actionable strategy: success wasn’t in the device per se, but in content creation. Therefore, our project focused on developing a professional tool to create traction on a newly-born market.

From highly demanding technical requirements, to partnering up with film-industry referents, in a cross-functional team effort to bring this new reality to life.

The result. We created a professional VR solution that enhanced the content creation experience. By simplifying both HW and SW, we delivered a reliable system that adapted to existing workflows while adding a new dimension to film-making.

A to B, non-stop.

Series 2.

The challenge. The main challenge while being in charge of the overall UX setup of the project was literally how to redefine travellers’ journey. Turning it into a seamless experience through technology.

On top of all that, add building a sustainable start-up for extra pressure.

Series 2.

Approach. Starting from scratch, deep understanding of how we all commute set different ambitious approaches: from founding an airline to services around goods logistics, we took initially the humble yet challenging path of redefining luggage.

From research and problem-framing, going through production ramp-up, all the way to defining art direction and communication in record time.

Series 2.

The result. The result was the first interconnected luggage system ever. Embracing the possibilities physical and digital as a whole.

Simplifying your journey from packing, all the way through customs, to destination and back.

Not plugged, connected.

Networks.

The challenge. In a competitive market such as B2B telecomms, the balance between providing unique, meaningful solutions yet appealing from a cost and manufacturing point of view represents an opportunity to apply new approaches.

That’s exactly what we accomplished by teaming up with our Fixed Networks division at Nokia.

Networks.

A natural evolution. Taking full advantage of Nokia’s expertise and starting from existing tooling and technical limitations, we developed several B2B solutions which enhanced the experience for the end-user, thoughtfully reshaping the onboarding and installation various systems, fixed and wireless, while reducing support and maintenance costs for carriers.

Our approach, betting on a full revision of B2B portfolio design language and technical aspects, achieved an amazing result: proud users of their products enhancing their RF performance by installing them on plain sight, and revitalising he brand due to consumer satisfaction.

Sky isn’t the limit.

NDN. _

NDN.

Approach. Working together with business developers and vertical experts, we defined the way to highlight its importance was setting a meaningful goal: improving lives through actionable data. Developing from scratch a solution combining digital and physical, in co-creation with strategic partners.

NDN.

The result. The result was an aerial analysis system with such an internal impact that turned Nokia Digital Automation Program into a Business Group on its own, highlighting the importance of our user-centred approach to bring new value to the company.

Scaling up. _

Metrobus.

An ever-growing city. Would you ever dare changing the tracing of one of the world’s biggest and busiest avenues in the world? That was our challenge, presented by the Buenos Aires Municipality as part of groundbreaking changes in their public spaces and transport policies.

As part of an open contest, EC presented a bold vision: reducing car driveways by 50%, replacing them with green spaces, bus and bicycle lanes. Working alongside civil engineers, authorities, transport companies and public to reduce pollution in the metropolitan area, increasing efficiency and fostering bicycle usage in an award-winning landscape shift was a professional dream come true.

Thanks!

I’m looking forward to joining a team that shares my very same values and ways; a happy bunch I can learn new tricks from, changing the world a project at a time. Are you in?

Don’t hesitate to reach out to me for more information.

/ignaciodavola Sundholmsvej 67, 1.TV  Copenhagen

ignacio@davola.me