Gioacchino Scarpellini

Why this persona fits the audience

Runs a 5-person architecture studio in Milan and reviews workstation layouts, ergonomic seating, and minimalist desk photos for both staff and client home-office consulting. Keeps references in folders and pinned boards for ongoing planning.

• Age: 42
• Location: Milan, Italy
• Occupation: Architecture studio owner
• Income: €80k/year
• Education: Bachelor's degree
• Company size: 5 employees (including himself)
• Years in role: 7 years as sole proprietor

“A space must breathe first, then it can be lived in; if the foundation of comfort is flawed, nothing else built upon it will ever feel truly finished.”

Gioacchino Scarpellini stands as a pillar of Milan's contemporary architectural scene, steering his modest yet highly regarded five-person studio with a steady hand. Born and raised in Lombardy, he earned his Bachelor's degree from the Politecnico di Milano, graduating with a focus on functional minimalism—a philosophy that has defined his career. Seven years ago, he left the safety of a large corporate firm to establish his own practice, driven by a desire to control the entire design narrative from concept to execution. Today, his studio is renowned for its meticulous attention to detail, particularly in how workspaces influence human performance. He personally curates every aspect of the studio environment, treating his own office as a living laboratory for ergonomic theory. Recently, Gioacchino has become increasingly involved in consulting for clients seeking to optimize their home offices, a trend that surged post-pandemic. This shift has required him to expand his expertise beyond structural design into the nuances of interior ergonomics and product selection. He maintains an extensive, analog-based library of references, pinning photographs of minimalist desks and material finishes to corkboards that line his walls, believing that tactile interaction aids his creative process. Despite the success of his firm, he remains grounded, earning a comfortable €80,000 annually, which he wisely reinvests into the studio's growth rather than personal indulgence. His personality is a blend of high conscientiousness and moderate openness; he respects tradition but is eager to adopt new tools if they demonstrably improve efficiency. However, he remains skeptical of overly complex software solutions that promise magic without substance. He is currently grappling with the challenge of organizing his vast collection of digital and physical references, feeling that his current manual methods are becoming a bottleneck as the studio expands. With a disciplined routine and a sharp eye for detail, Gioacchino continues to shape the way people live and work, one carefully considered desk setup at a time.

Background & daily life

A day in their life

At 7:30 AM, Gioacchino arrives at his studio, brewing a double espresso while scanning the city view from his window. By 8:15, he is in the main meeting room, leading a stand-up with his three designers, focusing on the progress of the Milanese apartment renovation. Mid-morning involves a site visit to verify material finishes, followed by back-to-back video calls with international clients discussing their home-office requirements. Lunch is a solitary affair at a nearby bistro, away from screens. Afternoon hours are dedicated to reviewing technical drawings and updating his physical reference board with new fabric swatches. Late afternoon brings a workshop session where he personally adjusts the desks of his team members, ensuring perfect cable management and monitor height. He leaves at 7:00 PM, taking a brisk walk to clear his mind before returning home to read or plan the next day's agenda.

Lifestyle

Gioacchino lives in a sun-drenched, high-ceilinged loft in Milan's Isola district, where industrial concrete meets warm walnut flooring. His mornings begin with a ritualistic espresso at his custom oak counter before checking emails. He prioritizes health through evening runs along the Navigli canals and strict adherence to ergonomic principles in his own life. Financially, he is conservative, reinvesting most profits into studio equipment rather than luxury vehicles. Socially, he maintains a tight circle of fellow architects and designers who meet weekly for dinner, valuing deep conversation over large gatherings. His weekends are spent visiting showrooms or tinkering with small woodworking projects in his garage.

Work life

As the head of a five-person boutique firm, Gioacchino balances creative direction with administrative oversight. His office is a showcase of his philosophy: uncluttered surfaces, matte black metal frames, and natural light. He spends his days reviewing renderings, conducting client consultations on home-office ergonomics, and physically inspecting his team's workstations. Recently, he mandated a review of all staff chairs after noticing minor posture complaints. He relies heavily on physical mood boards and digital folders, meticulously categorizing material samples by texture and finish. The pressure comes from tight deadlines and the expectation that his personal aesthetic permeates every deliverable.

Relationships

He shares a close, supportive relationship with his sister in Bologna, often discussing family matters over Sunday calls. His professional network is his primary social anchor, consisting of peers who understand the unique pressures of running a creative business. He is influenced by the older generation of Italian masters like Carlo Mollino, whose functional minimalism guides his approach. While not deeply embedded in broader community organizations, he actively participates in local design guilds, viewing them as essential for industry credibility and peer learning.

How they decide

Gioacchino employs a deliberate, research-heavy decision-making process. He rarely acts on impulse, preferring to gather data, consult trusted peers, and visualize outcomes before committing. He values evidence of longevity and durability over fleeting trends. When evaluating new solutions, he looks for logical consistency and alignment with established workflows, often testing concepts mentally against his core values of precision and functionality before considering adoption.

How they sound

His speech is measured, articulate, and distinctly Italian but with a formal, professional cadence. He avoids slang and hyperbole, preferring precise adjectives to describe spatial relationships and material qualities. He speaks with a slight emphasis on the importance of 'the right solution' rather than 'the best solution.' He tends to pause thoughtfully before answering complex questions, valuing accuracy over speed. In casual settings, his tone softens, becoming more conversational, though he still maintains a structured way of organizing his thoughts verbally.