Curriculum Vitae

Summary

Watch Industry Specialistfluent in English, French and Italian

I specialize in Trend Forecast for the watch industry and in optimization of the branding, design and manufacturing of watches. My expertise comes from a 15 years career in Trends Research and Industrial Design for 12 brands with sales in more than 130 countries, and from an apprenticeship in gold smithing and watch assembly.

I co-founded my first agency in 2014, shortly after leaving a two-year position as Competitive Analyst and Senior Industrial Designer at the Longines Watch Company in Switzerland.

Despite an ongoing global slowdown affecting the watch industry, I managed to generate double digit growth in the last three years with a proof of concept watch brand. Starting in late 2013 with an official online store and a dozen retailers, I grew the brand's distribution to more than 50 retailers across North America, Europe, Asia and Australia, with 15,000 watches in production by Spring 2017.

Skills

Strategy

Supplier Evaluation
Trend Forecasting
Competitive analysis
International Intellectual Property

Expertise

Watch manufacturing
Design Management
Project Management
Leather goods

Communication

Essays
Tutoring
Illustration
Copywriting

Experience

Woodshores AB

Competitive Analyst, watch industry 2016 – Present

Based in Stockholm, the startup capital of Europe, Woodshores AB draws experience from 15 years of experience with 9 brands and markets of more than 130 countries. The agency performs Trends Forecast and carries out research on the Swiss and international watch industry. We provide advise to horological entrepreneurs for optimizing their branding, design and sourcing.
We also operate Techné instruments, a proof of concept watch brand with production of 15,000 timepieces by Spring 2017 and retail in more than 50 stores in major cities across the USA, Japan, South Korea, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, the Benelux and Scandinavia.

Anima AB

Senior Industrial Designer2015 – Present

Anima AB specializes in purposefully designed smart, connected products. I signed for a Senior Designer position within Anima AB for the opportunity to contribute to the launch of their brand and the expansion of their collections.

Within 3 weeks I was allowed to bring in a supplier for a critical component, and within 9 weeks I was allowed to make suggestions to radically strengthen the company's branding strategy.

I am also bringing my expertise with metal smithing and watch components suppliers to assist Anima's Partner Business and Strategic Sourcing manager during Supplier Evaluation.

VANTGARD Sàrl

Competitive Analyst2013 – 2015

While making regular visits to Swiss and Asian watch component manufacturers for two years, I ran a Swiss agency dedicated to researching watch market (how it shifts, what is changing) and then helping watch companies understand and interpret that information so that they can make more attractive products. The agency also took over the management of Techné instruments, a novel lifestyle watch brand.

Longines Francillon SA

Senior Industrial Designer and Competitive Analyst 2011 – 2013

Working as lead designer and competitive analyst, I was personnally in charge of designing all models that were launched between 2012 and 2014. Directly reporting to CEO Walter Von Kaenel, I was a privileged witness to his outstanding leadership, managerial abilities and peoples skills; and this experience made me realise the potential of Design Management.

Longines Francillon SA

Middleweight Industrial Designer 2007 - 2011

I was hired by talented director Guido Benedini to complement the product team. Working in close collaboration with colleagues Pascal Prétot, Daniel Brischoux and Ibrahim Omerovich from the technical office, I learned to perform thorough competitive analysis to integrate cost and manufacturing constraints into watch designs intended for in-house assembly

Morellato Group

Middleweight Industrial Designer2003 - 2007

After acquiring one of my patent ideas, the Italian watch group offered a position within of their in-house Industrial designers team. Reporting to style-savy creative director Franco Bosisio, I learned to perform extensive trends research to create well balanced and visually pleasing designs for outsourced production, with a strong emphasis on color, material and finishing.

Homegate Srl

Website Architect2001 - 2003

This small business co-founded by three associates became specialized in Content Management Software after starting as an Internet Provider. Relying on my basic understanding of server-side scripting, I dedicated myself to learning Microsoft's ASP language, eventually becoming proficient in creating and managing proprietary CMS for clients.

Giallo 108

Web Designer2000 - 2001

The studio's founder Ottorino Piccinato entrusted me with setting up the corporate website in hand-crafted standard-compliant HTML and supervise interns.

T’Ai Ken

Interior Architect1999 - 2000

I was recruited by this successful medium-size family-owned business to manage the technical drawings of their core business: custom furniture fittings.I learned to balance speed and detailing, to work unsupervised, to keep track of deadlines and to deliver on time. I was eventually given creative carte blanche on projects, and after structuring a 3D repository of the company's proprietary designs I produced the first design proposals for their expansion to hotel chains.

Education

Degrees

University of Kent

Masters of Arts 1998 - 1999

École des Arts Saint-Luc Liège

Bachelor’s degree 1994 - 1998

Certificates

Altran Education Services

Project Management (PMBOK) 2012 - 2012

CFTP watchmaking school Geneva

Watchmaking Foundation 2012 - 2012

ifage

Watchmaking Foundation 2011 - 2011

Scuola Orafa Ambrosiana

Goldsmithing 2006 - 2007

Languages

French Native or bilingual proficiency

English Native or bilingual proficiency

Italian Full professional proficiency