Paola Navone

Turin-born architect, art director, and master designer Paola Navone (b. 1950) is a towering figure in contemporary international design, celebrated for an eclectic, tactile aesthetic that bridges Mediterranean vitality with Asian artisan crafts. Graduating in architecture from the Politecnico di Torino in 1973, Navone was an early collaborator of the radical Alchimia and Memphis groups. Awarded the prestigious Osaka Design Award, Navone has served as long-term art director and chief designer for Italian furniture house Gervasoni. Her defining masterpieces include the iconic Ghost upholstered seating collection—celebrated for slipcovers that drape like airy linen tunics—alongside the woven Nuvola sofa and the InOut outdoor series. She has also created poetic tableware for Serax, lighting for FontanaArte, and collections for Poltrona Frau and Baxter.