Alessio Nardi

Founder - A-nrd

Alessio Nardi is the founder of A-nrd, a London-based multi-disciplinary design studio specialising in commercial and hospitality design. Born in Italy, in a small town between Milan and Lake Como, Alessio developed a passion for architecture and design from an early age, often telling friends and family he would one day build them a house. Spending summers in a rural village near the Apuane Mountains - famed for its Carrara marble – he developed an appreciation for materiality that later shaped his design ethos. This passion led him to pursue studies in art and applied arts before enrolling at Politecnico di Milano, following in his father’s footsteps to study product and industrial design.

After graduating, Alessio moved to London for an Erasmus program at London Metropolitan University, focusing on furniture design. This proved to be a pivotal experience that reshaped his career trajectory. Initially intending to pursue academia through a PhD and apprenticeship at Politecnico di Milano, he instead found London’s creative environment more dynamic and inspiring. After completing his studies, he chose to stay in London, gaining experience at boutique studios that deepened his understanding of interior and product design from concept to realisation.

His early career saw him working at Morph, where he refined his attention to detail and contemporary design language. He then joined Tord Boontje, where he gained a newfound appreciation for nature through furniture design and installation projects. A subsequent role at Lee Broom allowed him to work on prestigious interior projects such as the Christian Louboutin store at Harrods, as well as furniture and lighting design. Here, Alessio developed an appreciation for heritage references and craftsmanship - elements that now define Anrd’s signature aesthetic.

Following this, Alessio embarked on a freelance career in Amsterdam at Uxus, contributing to large-scale retail and hospitality projects, including the launch of Bloomingdale’s Kuwait. It was at Uxus that he met Lukas Persakovas, Alessio founded A-nrd in 2015 and it has quickly grown, with Lukas joining as Creative Partner in 2018. Together, they bring a broad spectrum of expertise across architecture, interior, furniture and decorative design.