Hello!
I’m Claudia.
a designer, artist and entrepreneur– with a love of transforming visions into realities. These roles have led to the immeasurable wonders of my life. It is the allurement I encounter that allows me to focus on the soul of a project – the aspects that make it unique to every person – and express it through exquisite design.
A former New Yorker, I found my dreams took flight after moving to Rome in 2006. The beauty and culture of the Eternal City appealed to every sense – especially visual. With a mix of aging glory and modern chic, leisurely energy and impatient speed, village vibe and urban sophistication, Rome inspired me to build a design agency around the mix of my two cities. The result: Rome Design Agency.
Whether it’s a new brand design, a luxury silk scarf, or a public exhibition, my intuition and creativity enable me to understand the thing that pulls it all together – beautifully. Like all our innate talents, I’ve always done it, it’s something I’ve always known how to do.
Art and design
Art and design are two interconnected realms that, for me, seamlessly move between expressive abstraction to purposeful communication, continually influencing and enriching each other. My work is a play between these worlds, a constant exchange.
My career has enabled me to work with some of the most visually sophisticated clients in the world on exceptionally innovative projects. I’ve designed book covers for Simon & Schuster and Measure Publishing, television sets for major networks like CBS and Comedy Central, and collaborated with creative teams at Jack Morton Worldwide, Alphaomega, Palazzo Braschi, Bulgari Hotels, among many others.
Here’s my top 5 of why i do what i do
1. I can’t help it. Design has been engraved into my identity since I was young.
2. I believe in my clients. I combine all of my skills to create as much beauty as possible for the people I work for – and the people they work for!
3. I make it work. It’s not enough for design to be beautiful, it must also be smart and functional. Finding the combination of beauty and functionality keeps design alive.
4. I find the soul. I love to steer my clients beyond our digital age’s superabundance of readily-available ideas, presences and products to empower them to see the essence of their work and to realize their genuine vision.
5. I integrate. As a kind of curator of elements, I love to render my clients’ creativity by combining all elements of life. Truly original work comes from working with a rich palette of options – and knowing what to use and when.
On the museum and gallery walls
I am honored to serve as art director for Laudato Sie, the show of restored Franciscan manuscripts at Palazzo Braschi (Rome). I designed the exhibition graphics, branding, website and products for the entire show. Bringing together visual storytelling, artistic sensibility and cultural heritage, I create immersive exhibition designs that captivate and inspire audiences.
As an exhibited artist, my work has been shown in prestigious galleries and institutions. The Iconics/Poetics series has become an art book and a frequently-shown series of acrylic glass prints.
At the end of the day, the people with whom I work best are those who love design and innovation – who appreciate true originality
This Dolce Life
Moving to Italy after working in New York City in 2006 was a stark contrast – the high-intensity pressure was off, but I still had loads of energy and ambition. This is where my entrepreneurial fire came through. I founded the Rome Design Agency to marry graphic design and art projects on a larger scale, and to offer a hub of collaboration.
For several years, I served as editor and art director of the Italian Journal magazine. In 2019, I launched Open City experiences, a hub for creative workshops that I still enjoy leading for select groups.
In my personal life, I met and married the Italian photographer Mauro Benedetti. A few years later, our son Ludovico joyously entered our lives.
Mentorship
Mentorship has become an essential part of my journey. I take great joy in hosting interns and young creatives, sharing my experiences, and helping them navigate the complexities of the creative field through collaborations with academic institutions in Rome.
My Luxury Silk Scarf Line
Silk scarves combine the beauty and fluidity of fabric, with color and a fashionable functionality. I love designing these beautiful objects. In 2021, launched my line of luxury silk scarves in a fashion brand called “Clù“. My scarves are featured at the Metropolitan Opera Shop and are sold internationally to those who love acquiring something artistic, packaged gorgeously and shipped from Rome, Italy.
"la NewYorkese"
In Italian press, I am often referred to as “la Newyorchese” (the New Yorker).
While art direction is the focus of my design agency, I adore running a fashion brand Clù – while being stage mother to my actor son Ludovico Benedetti. It’s a full life!