Andrea Varalli

Work

I had a passion for well-designed objects and products ever since I can remember. I got a Master Degree in Architecture from the Politecnico in Milano and, in 1997, I moved to New York City.

I focused on digital design and brand communications for a few years, realizing that the methodology and problem solving used in architecture translated really well into designing digital products. I worked as a creative director, design strategist and user experience expert in a variety of environments—design agencies, digital and non-digital startups, tech companies and consulting. In 2015 I joined legendary consulting firm McKinsey & Company as an Associate Partner and Experience Design Expert.

I now advise top international businesses on customer experience and design strategy. The center of my professional focus is omni-channel user experiences which combines all the design disciplines I have been passionately developing throughout my career—digital, product, service and brand design.

Find more details about my work here.

Art

At heart, I have always been an artist—I produced a lot of pop-style paintings, graffiti and installations in my 20s. After a long hiatus I started producing artwork again, just for the fun, and for the love of it.

See my artwork at artwork.andreavaralli.com.

Beyond work

I love swimming, particularly in open water, and I spend as much time as I can in the ocean. I completed a few marathon swims and I am always looking for new adventures—my next big one will be the circumnavigation of Manhattan.

I have traveled extensively throughout all my life. I like traveling with a purpose and my passions have always brought me to interesting places. I went to India a few times to study yoga ending up spending a combined two years in Mysore, I also lived in Hawaii for a while to learn about sustainable living, just to name a couple of experiences.

I am a strong advocate of using non-disposable products and minimizing waste. I am passionate about mechanical watches, fountain pens and old-school tools in general—I believe that there is value in high-end instruments that demand care and are not simply discarded after been used a few times.