🌍 Meet the Mentors of Florence Hackathon

As the first Hackathon of the CREAConnect project gets underway in Florence, participants will be supported by a dynamic group of mentors—designers, researchers, cultural entrepreneurs, and creative strategists—who bring a wealth of experience and unique perspectives to the table.

These mentors will guide teams throughout the co-design process, offering feedback, direction, and inspiration as participants tackle the challenge of visualizing overtourism and its impact on city life.
Here’s a look at the people who will be shaping the experience from behind the scenes:

Arianna Camellato

Arianna Camellato is a PhD student in Architectural Technology at the University of Florence. Her research focuses on developing visual narrative tools that enhance information accessibility in participatory processes, fostering more inclusive approaches to architecture.
 She graduated in December 2022 with her thesis “(HOW) TO DRAW A PROCESS: An Architectural Storytelling of Social Innovation Case” and she has assisted in teaching technological courses at the university since 2020.

Her professional experience includes culture-based regeneration projects for abandoned spaces, particularly in Florence. At Lumen, she has collaborated on the board since 2021, initially managing workshops and educational initiatives, including Erasmus+ projects, and later working on the project’s social impact evaluation.

Arianna’s academic work intersects with her passion for illustration and children’s publishing, creating a unique blend of architectural technology, social innovation, and visual storytelling. Her research explores how these diverse elements can coexist and enhance each other.

Marco Berni

Marco Berni is a designer and researcher focused on collaborative design, socio-cultural innovation, and nature-based urban transformation. He co-founded Codesign Toscana, a nonprofit promoting participatory, design-driven methods for inclusive and sustainable futures. His work spans social research, placemaking, and civic engagement, as well as European innovation programs centered on intergenerational learning, service design, and cultural regeneration.

Since 2022, he has collaborated with the Municipality of Bologna on urban cultural initiatives like La Città che Danza and the Bologna Portici Festival. Marco teaches Civic Design at the University of Florence (DIDA), exploring how design and nature-based strategies support sustainable urban ecosystems. He has led numerous projects funded by ERDF, ESF, Interreg, and national programs, including Start Park, URWAN, and Next-ILVA. He holds a Master’s in Innovation Management (Sant’Anna & University of Trento) and Design-Driven Strategies (University of Florence). As a former research fellow at the University of Trento, he explored speculative and collaborative design. His writings appear in international publications on sustainability and co-design in urban contexts.

Rachele Gracci

Rachele Gracci is a PhD student in Service Design for the Public Sector at Sapienza University of Rome, in the Department of Planning, Design, and Technology of Architecture. She is a communication designer with a Master’s degree in Communication and Digital Product Design from ISIA Florence, where she also earned her Bachelor’s degree in Design. In 2023, she designed “DAS – A Dialogue for Social Agriculture”, leading a campaign aimed at promoting the inclusion of Social Agriculture practices in the Health Budget program of the Tuscany Region. The project activated bottom-up empowerment dynamics through Service Design processes. Today, through her research and association work, she is engaged in the revitalization of rural areas.

Criticity

Criticity is a collective born in Florence in 2020. The collective is composed of planners, researchers, designers and artists who, starting from the critique of reality, want to enhance and nurture those virtuous practices of urban intervention that, through forms in conflict with the dominant logics, affirm and claim potentialities of a different, radical, possible social coexistence and urban design.

Lorenzo Brunello (Criticity)

Lorenzo Brunello is Service Designer and Phd candidate of the XXXIX Associate Phd in “Service Design for Public Sector” at La Sapienza University of Rome, and the focus of his research is on sustainable urban transition processes and collaborative programs in urban settings. He is collaborating with Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna on a Research project on the development of ecosystem services in fragile urban contexts.
He has gained experience in European projects such as NetZeroCities and In-Habit (Horizon 2020), supporting urban regeneration and climate neutrality initiatives. Since 2020, together with other members of the Criticity collective, he has been promoting research and dissemination activities on urban issues through workshops, conferences, and educational programs.

Mattia Ventrella (Criticity)

Mattia Ventrella is an Industrial Designer & Researcher with experience in product development, applied research, and strategic design. He graduated in Integrated Product Design at Polytechnic of Milan and Interior Design at University of Florence. In the last five years, he has collaborated with digital fabrication laboratories, companies, and consulting agencies spread between Florence and Milan, spanning the various design disciplines.
Since 2021 he has joined the Criticity collective promoting its research and dissemination activities in the urban field.

Forte Design Studio

Transforming brands and culture with a design-driven approach. Forte is a small design studio specializing in strategic branding and UI/UX. We partner with innovative companies to turn ideas into transformative projects. We work closely with founders, CEOs, and executive teams to bring their most meaningful opportunities to life. Challenges like leadership changes, evolving business models, market expansions, and product innovation are exactly where we thrive. We’re here to help you realize your vision.



Filippo Corretti (Forte Design Studio)

My journey as a graphic and communication designer began in 2005, after graduating from ISIA (Higher Institute for Artistic Industries), immediately exploring both web and traditional graphic design. That year, I had the opportunity to co-found Extraneo, a communication studio that approached the market with a truly innovative spirit, and I still fondly keep a copy of the first website I created for it.

I have always believed in the importance of enriching freelance work with diverse experiences. Therefore, I have taught IT and design at various levels (schools, high schools, and the University of Design in Calenzano), collaborated as a researcher with DIDA in Florence, and actively participated in Private Flat, a fascinating cultural project that brought art into private spaces. I actively collaborate with the artist collective AutoriVari, a group of artists founded to create projects linked by the common thread of music.

Recently, I joined forces with Francesco Terzini and Giulio Muratori to establish Forte design studio. What guides us is not just creating effective design projects, but building authentic relationships with our clients, based on trust, respect, and meticulous attention that permeates our entire work method.

Francesco Terzini (Forte Design Studio)

I’m a designer by vocation, and for me, design is first and foremost a way to relate to the world — through ideas, ethics, aesthetics, and above all, people. It’s a serious matter, but I try not to take myself too seriously. I’ve been working in communication and design for almost twenty years, moving across branding, strategy, and digital experiences. Along the way, I’ve had the chance to collaborate with startups, public institutions, cultural foundations, and international companies — but what I care most about are the conversations, the process, and the values that hold everything together.

In 2022, together with Filippo and Giulio, I co-founded Forte Design Studio: a project born from friendship, trust, and the desire to build something meaningful — human before professional. Forte is where we explore design not as decoration, but as a language. We care about details, not for the sake of perfection, but because they say something real. I believe design should be both thoughtful and approachable. It’s not about showing off how smart or original we are — it’s about listening, making sense of complexity, and creating space for others. Alongside years of hands-on practice, I’ve deepened my perspective through programs like the Future London Academy, where I explored design leadership and innovation with people from all over the world. I’m passionate about philosophy, music, food, sport — and long, unfiltered conversations. I like when things are done well, but even more when they’re done with care. That’s also how I try to work.

Alice Gabay

Alice Gabay is an expert in entrepreneurship support, currently leading initiatives at AMI (Aide aux Musiques Innovatrices), based at La Friche in Marseille since its inception. Alice is highly skilled in guiding entrepreneurs through the ideation and prototyping stages, project pitching, and action plan formulation. Her experience includes co-designing and facilitating hackathons within the Innovation Lab of the Banque de France, where she developed innovative solutions to support struggling entrepreneurs. She has also collaborated with PAU.

Lorenzo Rando

Born in Italy, Lorenzo Rando has spent the last decade building ventures across the UK and Europe, and now in Netherlands. Passionate about empowering aspiring business leaders, he focus on practical coaching and mentorship. Dedicated to growth and innovation, he believe in real-world experience and tailored guidance to nurture entrepreneurial talent. His cross-cultural background allows him to provide strategic support to help individuals navigate the challenges of launching and scaling businesses.

Nana Radenkovic

Nana is the co-founder of Nova Iskra, the first creative hub in the Balkans and a founding member of the European Creative Hubs Network (ECHN). Passionate about equipping young professionals with the skills needed in an ever-changing job market, she develops specialized educational programs that foster adaptability and innovation at both local and global levels. Nana’s work spans public, private, and civil society sectors, with extensive experience in the arts, culture, and creative industries.

✨ With this stellar lineup of mentors, the Florence Hackathon is set to be a vibrant, collaborative space for knowledge exchange and innovation. Whether you’re prototyping ideas or rethinking how cities communicate, these are the people helping push those ideas further.