Federigo Gabellieri is a Senior Art Director at GQ Italy. Known for balancing deep industry passion with critical distance, he brings thoughtful leadership and fresh perspectives to every project. He is being recognized as a judge in the Beauty, Fashion, Portraiture & Celebrity, Sport, and Still Life for the Spotlight Awards. We caught up with Federigo to discuss his creative influences, approach to visual storytelling, and how he sees the role of art direction evolving in today’s industry.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced, and how did you overcome it?
The failure of my own beliefs, at the beginning I felt myself ready to do this job but I was not of course. Accepting this required time and acceptance.
What skills do you believe are most critical for success in this role?
You need to be so into this world but also so far from this, it is a balance.
What do you believe is the role of creativity in shaping society and culture?
It is still really relevant, I believe so, the ways creativity is applied to the society are changing quicker than ever.
How do you find inspiration outside of your industry?
I never think about the industry itself, really, I observe what's happens and try to understand what's around and be critique.
What role does research play in your creative process?
It's a daily routine, for sure, everyday I save at least 30 minutes just to browse, search and do my lists.
How do you measure your success beyond traditional metrics?
Having a meaningful life, life success do not correspond to our careers.
How do you ensure all voices on a team are heard during the creative process?
Letting them talk.
How do you handle disagreements or creative conflicts within a team?
There are no conflicts, really, everybody can have their own vision, sometimes I agree sometimes not, it doesn't mean I am right.
What makes for an ideal collaboration?
The right feelings and purposes.
What’s one piece of advice you wish you could give your younger self?
Relax.
How do you typically discover photographers for your projects?
I have different ways to keep learning, the quickest and nowadays more common is by using IG filtering the right pages, the most meaningful way is still talking with people and friends in the industry.
What kind of criteria will you use to judge the Spotlight Awards? Why do you think initiatives like these are important for photographers?
I do not have specific criterias, I think strong pictures need to be emotionally linked to us, so it's never a matter of technique but feelings.
Federigo Gabellieri’s journey shows that meaningful creativity requires both passion and perspective. By fostering open dialogue and respecting diverse visions, he encourages teams to thrive in collaboration and produce work that resonates beyond traditional metrics of success. Spotlight Awards 2025 are now open for entries until the 31st of July, 2025, offering photographers worldwide a chance to compete in 15 categories judged by top industry professionals, with over $55,000 in prizes and global recognition.
