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Francesco’s journey in spatial computing, game design, and development pedagogy.

Giffoni Good Games 2023, Francesco presents the Apple Developer Academy. Read more →

As a 90s teenager, I dreamed of creating comics, movies, and video games.

However, with limited opportunities in the italian creative industry, advertising seemed like the only viable path. Pursuing a career as a comic book artist felt out of reach amidst economic turmoil and daunting skill requirements. Undeterred, I pursued studies in art, cultural heritage, cinema, and industrial design, seeking alternative avenues.

The 2008 global financial crisis reshaped my trajectory. After university, I transitioned into graphic design. It was at an event two years later that I stumbled into web design and user interfaces, realizing the synergy between my background in storytelling and graphic novels with my newfound passion.

I dedicated myself to becoming a specialist in user interface design, investing time and resources into acquiring skills. Notably, a training session in Atlanta introduced me to Bruce Tognazzini from the Norman Nielsen group, where I drew parallels between Macintosh Human Interface Guidelines and the design principles I'd observed in my grandfather's naval draftsman work.

In 2016, I entered a new phase of my career after being selected through an open competition for industry professionals. Joining the Apple Developer Academy at the University of Naples Federico II, I embarked on instructing and guiding students in Human Interface Design and CBL training. Surprisingly, my diverse background in humanities and design provided a solid foundation for creating engaging experiences in Spatial Design and Game Development.

Today, as a Creative Director for Extended Reality (XR), I reflect on my journey with gratitude.

With over 15 years of hands-on experience in Interaction Design, Gamification, and UX methodologies, I now shape the artistic vision of spatial computing projects. My role involves providing expert guidance on design direction, crafting immersive narratives, and ensuring technical feasibility. Grounded in user-centered design principles, I foster collaboration across teams, whether our focus is education or entertainment.

Nosce te ipsum,

Francesco
Lifelong learner

Enjoy the featured works of Francesco Perchiazzi.
Experiences with the asterisk (*) are under non-disclosure agreement.

Apple Developer Academy *

2016 →

First in Europe, in partnership with the University of Naples Federico II in Naples, Italy.

50+

Countries

An international environment with learners coming from more than 50 countries.

2000+

Devs

More than 2000 App creators trained at the Academy and now working around the globe.

1000+

Apps

More than 1000 apps developed. Learn App development with Swift by creating your own Apps.

150+

WWDC

More than 150 Academy learners won the highly competitive Swift Student Challenge.

Based in Naples, Italy, the Apple Developer Academy welcomes students from across the globe. Each year’s class brings together students from nearly 20 countries.
Established in 2016, the Apple Developer Academy in Naples has helped prepare thousands of European students for jobs in the thriving iOS app economy — which supports more than 1.7 million jobs across Europe.
Apple’s new investment will extend programming at the Apple Developer Academy through 2025, and create a new alumni program to help graduates pursue new opportunities and business ventures.
In addition to teaching the basics of coding with Swift, the Apple Developer Academy also emphasizes collaboration and encourages students to make an impact in their communities.
Read more →

Empowering learners, unleashing their imagination in order to generate creative concepts and understand the fundamentals of Human Interaction Design. Training at the Academy is aimed at developing apps for the world’s most innovative and vibrant app ecosystem. The program provides students with practical skills and experience to help turn their app ideas into reality and bring them to market on the App Store.

Learn more about Apple Developer Academy in Italy →

Speculative Spatial Design Canvas

2024

Layout guide and design tool for spatial app and game development. The Speculative Spatial Design Canvas is a data-driven visual representation model aimed at creating guidelines for the successful development of apps and games for visionOS.

The Speculative Spatial Design Canvas is a pivotal tool for creating spatial computing experiences, meticulously crafted and informed by scientific insights from Neuroscience; it offers a comprehensive framework for developers to navigate the intricacies of spatial design with confidence and clarity.
Rooted in the principles of data-driven design, the Speculative Spatial Design Canvas is a guiding beacon for developers, empowering them to craft immersive and user-friendly experiences while mitigating potential challenges, such as cybersickness and fatigue.
By delineating spatial relationships and optimizing interaction dynamics, this canvas facilitates the creation of environments that prioritize user comfort and engagement.
Ensure coherence and seamlessness in your design through a systematic breakdown of elements and thoughtful allocation within distinct spatial areas, fostering intuitive interactions and compelling narratives. From defining elements to sketching layouts and envisioning 3D interactions, each step in the canvas’ process is meticulously designed to enhance the user experience and propel spatial computing into a new era of innovation.

The Speculative Spatial Design Canvas should be used during a feasibility assessment following a brainstorming session before porting an app or a game from iOS to visionOS, or even better, before starting the development on third-party tools like Unity. It is hosted on Create with Swift and brought to you by imaginary institute, a creative design and tech consultancy, bringing imagination and innovation to the visionaries and shapers of tomorrow.

Learn more about the Speculative Spatial Design Canvas →

Brid Air purifier

2020

User Experience Design for Brid App for iOS, the perfect companion for BRID Air purifier, the first modular air purifier and the world's most efficient compact indoor air purifier designed by Atellani Studio.

Usability, User Satisfaction, and Performance Efficiency are the focal points in the User Experience Design for the Brid App, spanning iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS.
The design ensures a seamless and intuitive journey for users across various Apple devices. Usability is emphasized by focusing on responsive touch gestures, a visually appealing interface, and a smooth navigation system. Users can effortlessly manage their indoor air quality, adjust settings, and receive real-time updates with ease. In crafting the user experience for these platforms, the focus lies on creating a seamless and intuitive journey for the users.
In crafting the user experience for these platforms, the focus lies on creating a seamless and intuitive journey for the users. This design process involves an intricate blend of aesthetics, functionality, and user-centric elements to ensure that controlling and monitoring the BRID Air purifier is an effortless and enjoyable experience.
User Satisfaction is at the heart of the design, aiming to provide a simplified yet powerful experience for users to monitor air quality, receive alerts, and make adjustments.

Clean air directly to your home. BRID's patented L.E.A.P. Technology (Led Enabled Advanced Photocatalysis) destroys different classes of indoor pollutants transforming them into harmless substances.

Learn more about Brid Air Purifier →

PRM Manager

2019

IntraNet Service Design for Gestione Servizi Aeroporti Campani company for Naples International Airport (NAP), a web application to improve passengers with reduced mobility (PRMs) experience.

Usability, User Satisfaction, and Performance Efficiency take center stage in the PRM Manager project, initiated in 2020; its primary goal is to craft a web application that enhances passengers’ experience with reduced mobility (PRMs).
The project aligns closely with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, emphasizing that individuals with reduced mobility, whether in air travel or other facets of life, are entitled to the same rights as any other citizen, including freedom of movement, choice, and freedom from discrimination.
For the PRM Manager web app, designed to facilitate the management of passengers with reduced mobility (PRMs), Service Design drives the overarching objective of elevating the overall experience for PRMs, airport workers, and all other stakeholders intertwined with the service. Service Design starts by profoundly understanding user needs and exploring the requirements, pain points, and expectations of both PRMs and workers. Active co-creation with workers through co-creation workshops is vital for optimizing their user experience. Information architecture ensures a clear structure, logically organizing data such as PRM information, flight schedules, and equipment statuses.
This well-structured architecture streamlines data retrieval for workers, facilitating quick access to vital information.
The usability/UI focuses on creating an intuitive, user-friendly interface, streamlining workflows for efficient access and updates. Accessibility, particularly on mobile devices, is prioritized for fast-paced airport environments. Feedback mechanisms and comprehensive training and support round out the Service Design approach.

Strictly pursuant to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, within the air travel as well as in all other aspects of life, people with reduced mobility have the same rights as any other citizen to the freedom of movement, freedom of choice and to non-discrimination.

Learn more about GE.S.A.C PRM Manager →

Harley-Davidson® Napoli

2018

A customer experience who adheres to Harley-Davidson Standards by engaging visitors, fuelling their passion for H-D products and driving them to the store to power dealership’s success.

The website is purposefully designed for senior users, precisely those aged 50 and older, acknowledging their unique usability requirements. The project underscores the critical significance of visibility, with a firm commitment to ensuring that the website’s interface elements are clear and easily distinguishable for senior users. It involves the meticulous implementation of specific visibility features such as utilizing larger fonts, the incorporation of clear headings, and the inclusion of well-contrasted color schemes. These design elements are explicitly tailored to meet the distinct needs of older users.
Central to the project is the focus on user engagement, especially for seniors. The objective is to offer users, particularly those in the senior demographic, comprehensive feedback. It encompasses the provision of confirmation messages to validate successful interactions and the provision of guidance to aid them during their site navigation. The project has integrated specific feedback mechanisms, which include confirmation messages and effective error handling, underscoring a profound dedication to enhancing the user experience through feedback.
The project ensures the effective mapping of the website’s content and features. This logical and consistent organization simplifies the process for senior users to connect their actions with desired outcomes. Content has been meticulously structured logically, and every effort has been made to ensure that users can conveniently locate pertinent information. This detailed mapping approach caters specifically to the usability requirements of senior users, with the ultimate goal of delivering a seamless and intuitive user experience.
Celebrate 30 years of activity of Harley-Davidson® Napoli Licensed Apparel in partnership with RK Stratman Inc.! Inspired by famous Mele Posters, an early 1900s advertising collection about fashion shops I Grandi Magazzini Italiani donated by the heirs of founders, Emiddio and Alfonso Mele, to the Museo di Capodimonte in Naples, Italy.

A Dealership website is customers’ first stop on the road to purchasing a Harley-Davidson® motorcycle. Harley-Davidson® Napoli website is easy to navigate and, seamlessly integrated with other marketing efforts, is a powerful business tool.

Learn more about Harley-Davidson® Napoli website →

Poste Italiane Group

2011

Intranets, mobile apps, voice interfaces, and more for National Operational Programme for Research and Competitiveness TITAN, e-Money & multi-channel services.

With five years of experience in iOS, Android, and Windows Phone application design, as well as Intranet interface design, the project’s objective is to create an innovative system for managing electronic money and Value Added Services across multiple channels. This comprehensive system oversees the complete lifecycle of electronic money instruments, including issuance, upgrades, loading of value-added services, acquiring, transaction authorization, reporting, monitoring, and implementing incentive programs, all while maintaining an integrated, multi-channel, and customer-centric approach.
It involves exploring techniques and methods related to the security of communication channels, communication protocols between services, and digital identity verification to prevent identity theft-based fraud. The project also delves into refining service discovery processes by leveraging semantic constraints, priorities, and user characteristics to ensure alignment with individual preferences and needs. Innovative technology solutions and architectural considerations are analyzed comprehensively to establish an IT infrastructure that excels in scalability, reliability, transactional efficiency, modularity, performance, and adaptability to evolving value-added service delivery scenarios.
A key area of focus in this project is the development of acceptance systems for various touchpoints, including Point of Sale (POS), ATMs, and Cash Registers with integrated POS capabilities. The project places a strong emphasis on innovative user experiences, which involves crafting methods and techniques for multi-channel interactions and creating pioneering user interfaces that provide seamless access, composition, and usage of services across diverse devices. Special attention is given to methods and models that enhance interfaces with multi-mode feedback and enable the management of emotional and affective user experiences.
Within the framework of this initiative, models and techniques are defined for semantically describing services, enabling service discovery, promoting interoperability and cooperation between services, and facilitating communication across different applications. Moreover, the descriptions of services can be semantically enriched with new information or correlations with ontological patterns and available datasets, such as geolocation services. Security is a central consideration in this project, extending beyond payment security to provide secure access to banking and value-added services.
TITAN: e-Money & Multi-channel Services represents a significant advancement in managing electronic money and Value Added Services, benefitting from extensive experience in UI/UX design, Visual Design, and Branding. The initiative aligns with various fields, including Smart Cities and Social Innovation, with a specified budget and public contributions. The project is poised to drive industry transformation, foster economic growth, and enhance the use of advanced technologies and services.

Distributing an innovative model in the panorama of electronic payment and the distribution of digitised services. In particular, the TITAN project studies the development of an innovative management platform of electronic money based on the use of multifunction payment cards, capable of integrating on a single electronic card Electronic Food Vouchers, Loyalty systems, but also utility and mobility services.

Learn more about MIUR NOP 0102136 Titan: e-Money & Multi-channel Services →

Carrefour

2009

Intership. Hands-on experience in packaging design, brand development, and print production for Carrefour Italia. Wax on, wax off.

As an intern, I collaborated with the design team to develop packaging designs for various products and assisted in the development of brand identities for new and existing products. I prepared and managed print production files for various packaging projects and participated in brainstorming sessions to generate new packaging and branding ideas. Additionally, I assisted in creating mock-ups and prototypes for packaging design concepts and conducted research on current design trends and packaging innovations.

Learn more about Carrefour Italia →

Heineken Italia

2008

Student. Advertising project, Driveken - Life is not a play viral campaign via non-adhesive car stickers and Augmented Reality (OpenGL technologies) experienes in café, restaurant, bistro and pubs.

Driveken: don’t drink and drive is a social responsibility campaign educating Heineken customers to drink responsibly and drive responsibly. These web based ideas allow young people to have more fun protecting themselves and the others. Giacomo Brivio, Federico Bucchi, Francesco Perchiazzi, Alberto Spada, supervised by Paolo Iabichino. SPD - Scuola Politecnica di Milano in partnership with Heineken Italia.

Learn more about SPD →

Scuola Romana dei Fumetti

2006

My passion for comics, cartoons, and illustration consumed my teenage life until the end of my University studies. I delved into character design, storytelling, and the art of visual communication.

It was a transformative journey of creativity and self-discovery. I will always remember Scuola Romana dei Fumetti in Rome. It is a significant institution with a thirty-year history, offering professional guidance and training in the Roman artistic landscape. There, I learned about scripting, drawing, comics for children and teenagers, painting, illustration, and digital art. Endless hours were spent honing my skills, attending conventions, and collaborating with fellow enthusiasts.

Learn more about Scuola Romana dei Fumetti →
Profile Picture of Francesco Perchiazzi

Francesco Perchiazzi

Creative Director XR

With more than 15 years of experience in design methodologies, I collaborate with external partners and stakeholders, offering guidance on design direction, crafting narratives, and ensuring technical feasibility—infusing real-world insights into our learning process, particularly in immersive experiences and speculative design. I also represent these innovative educational approaches in various forums, including events, talks, conventions, and publications.

I supervise education for spatial computing, game design, and gamification at the University of Naples Federico II’s Apple Developer Academy. Since winning a call for industry professionals in 2016, I’ve been involved in crucial roles such as curriculum design for visual design and user experience, teaching, classroom management, tutoring, mentoring, and supervising participants within the CBL training project. Throughout my eight-year tenure at the Apple Developer Academy, I’ve been fortunate to contribute to the success of our flagship program on a global scale.

One of the milestones I’m particularly proud of is the creation and authorship of the first original-ever pedagogy curriculum for Game Design. This curriculum encapsulates a holistic approach to game development that integrates gameplay testing, art direction, and narrative storytelling to create captivating and memorable gaming experiences. It was a collaborative effort, and I’m humbled to have shaped educational resources for aspiring developers.

My objective is to broaden my impact by generating insightful essays, hosting workshops, and creating graphic art that delves into the complexities of spatial computing and its myriad applications. As I set my sights on my future aspirations, I am filled with anticipation for the possibilities of advancing education, professional training, and consulting in spatial computing. Lifelong learner, author, cartoonist.

Certified

Adobe Certified Expert Photoshop®

Obtaining an industry-recognized certification for Adobe Photoshop in 2010 was a pivotal moment in kickstarting my career in the graphic design industry. The Adobe Certified Expert Photoshop® CS4 credential validated my proficiency using the software and demonstrated to potential employers that I had the necessary skills to be a competent graphic designer. This certification opened doors for me to secure various job opportunities and to work with clients who recognized my expertise in Adobe Photoshop. The Adobe Certification not only helped me to build my professional reputation, but it also provided me with a solid foundation to continue developing my skills in the ever-evolving field of graphic design. Credential ID #ADB242107.

Nielsen Norman Group UX Certification

Attending the UX Certification training with Nielsen Norman Group in Atlanta, Georgia, in September 2014 was a rewarding experience for many professionals seeking to deepen their knowledge in the user experience field. The training program, which covered various aspects of UX design, research, and testing, was led by industry experts and provided a hands-on approach to learning. After completing the program, participants obtained a UX Certification credential, including a unique ID number. This credential, such as UXC#1005424, is recognized as a mark of excellence in the field and demonstrates a commitment to upholding the highest standards in user experience design.

Author

Spatial Computing, Cartoon Animation.

Embracing Imaginary Spatial User Experience in visionOS
Based on recent explorations and discoveries enjoy our spatial computing user experience guidelines.
Read it on Create with Swift
Embracing spatial computing: the Speculative Spatial Design Canvas
Speculative Spatial Design Canvas guides developers for solid immersive visionOS experiences and user-friendly apps.
Read it on Create with Swift
Embracing Extended Reality (XR): diving deep into Spatial Design for visionOS
Understand the challenges of designing extended reality experiences.
Read it on Create with Swift
Embracing Extended Reality (XR): visionOS challenges
Discover challenges in XR’s design and UX, signaling a transformative shift, navigating responsive design complexities, and immersive interface innovations.
Read it on Create with Swift
Fare cinema disegnato. Il cartoon animato spiegato a mio nipote.
(Italian edition), La Torre Editrice. 1st edition, 2012. ISBN-10: 8896133165, ISBN-13: 978-8896133163
Get it from Amazon
Visual communication: understanding Gestalt principles. Explaining Gestalt through Susuwatari.
Created with Emanuele Agosta.
Read it on Medium.com

Feel free to contact me at

francesco@francescoperchiazzi.com

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