Ascanio Colonna di Paliano

User experience design, user experience research professor

Professor of UX design, 2020–present, Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA

Innovation design manager, 2017–19, Changan Automobile European Designing Center s.r.l., Turin, Italy
Integrated User Experience design (UX) operation in 50% of active product development projects within first year on the job. Implemented "interaction quality" and "experience quality" metrics to raise awareness on human factors across project teams without recruiting specific expertise. Developed a standard global process for User Experience (UX) design and Human-Machine Interface (HMI) design to be integrated in the product development workflow. Established an HMI rapid prototyping operation, reducing costs and lead times by 80%. Designed the basis for the future "InCall" infotainment platform (set requirements and design guidelines, defined a long-term vision, built a working prototype to illustrate our ideal cockpit layout, interaction logic, visuals, and AI behaviour). Established a scientific approach to design, based on evidence, through the gamification of design, the digital transformation of the development process, and the adoption of continuous rapid prototyping to improve decision making and the ability of the team to fail, learn, and improve in a high-pressure environment.

User experience design manager, 2016–17, FCA Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Turin, Italy
Experimented with progressive leadership and organizational models to reduce management overhead and sustain high engagement of colleagues. Disrupted supply chain management to boost efficiency, yielding a 50% increase of productivity without adding resources and raised output quality at the same time. Scouted and engaged with a number of internal and external potential partners to extend the reach and impact of User Experience (UX) design in the product development value chain, with particular focus on the early stage, when product marketing teams define the requirements and deliver the design brief to the design teams.

Chief user experience designer, 2013–16, FCA Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Turin, Italy
Designed the new Alfa Romeo bespoke infotainment platform (completely unrelated to Chrysler's systems) to be released on the future product line, starting with the Giulia and Stelvio models. Defined contents and features, physical controls, interaction logic, and visuals for the new Alfa Romeo onboard digital experience, in close collaboration with all stakeholders involved: perceived quality, human factors, safety, HMI, electronic engineering, innovation, product marketing, etc. Effected the digital transformation of User Interface (UI) development to boost efficiency and quality through automation and the introduction of digital tools to help manage the progress of over 10 thousand individual parts per project. Led the EMEA region through the innovation of tools and processes by working closely with ICT, security, and executive teams to capture the opportunities offered by rapidly evolving digital technologies.

Senior user experience designer, 2012–13, FCA Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Turin, Italy
Adopted User Experience (UX) design methodologies and storytelling to give the concept vehicle a clear context prior to defining its contents and features. Developed a story about logistics, identified key value propositions for different customers (company ownership, supervisor, driver), defined design challenges that translated into numerous patent filings. Took part in the design of the concept vehicle's interiors. Defined a cockpit layout, contents and features, interaction logic, and visuals for the on-board infotainment system. Developed a fully functional digital instrument cluster prototype with real-time 3D graphics based on Adobe Flash with OpenGL ES support. Through the internal showcase of the concept vehicle to executive teams, we secured the buy-in of the C-suite on the strategic importance of developing innovative Human-Machine Interface (HMI) features to sustain competitiveness.

Automotive designer, 2010–12, FCA Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Turin, Italy
Carried out the design of the interiors for a Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV), the IVECO Daily introduced in 2013. Followed the design process from initial brief to the start of production. The IVECO Daily eventually collected a number of international awards and achieved best in class performance in the field of passenger comfort and safety. The record sales tracked through 2016, which widely surpassed the company's projections, were attributed in large part to the quality of design. Learned to successfully lead by influence as an automotive designer.

Junior transportation designer, 2008–10, FCA Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Turin, Italy
Started a new career from scratch as transportation designer. Innovated the virtual modelling (CAS) process by adopting faster tools that reduced lead times by 70% during early stages of the design process.

Chief new media designer, 2007–08, Mobnotes.com, Milan, Italy
Designed the back end, including information architecture and database design. Designed and developed the front-end, including desktop and mobile web experiences, as well as native app for iOS. Innovated the User Experience (UX) of geography-based contents and features, including a streamlined location input to post and retrieve content, as well as an early implementation of reverse geocoding.

Senior new media designer and senior front-end developer, 2002–07, Portel s.r.l., Milan, Italy
Developed a number of corporate websites for desktop and mobile experiences, delivering consistent quality of interaction throughout the differing makes and models of smartphones in the pre-iPhone era. Developed a corporate back-office application for a logistics company, disrupting their nationwide distribution network with digital transformation and automation at a fraction of the cost by adopting web technologies. Designed and developed the front-end User Interfaces (UI) to allow the client's executive team to monitor the real-time progress over the nationwide distribution through their smartphones (big data).