About Federico Gaggio
About me
“I am not sure that I exist, actually. I am all the writers that I have read, all the people that I have met, all the women that I have loved; all the cities I have visited”
Jorge Luis Borges
I grew up in Milan in a house covered in books and without television, then spent the rest of my life working in the media sector. I studied philosophy, graphic design and film, experimenting with computer animation. I worked as a broadcast designer and director in Paris, then London, where I moved in the late ’90s. Later I joined Discovery as VP Brand and Creative, where I built the award-winning in-house creative agency, while growing Discovery's brands in the UK and Western Europe.
I discovered and joined an MBA programme in creative leadership, after which I left Discovery, and set up as an independent consultant. Since 2015 I’ve worked with a variety of clients, some directly, some with Pentagram and other agency partners.
In 2019 I co-founded URGE, a multidisciplinary collective of creative industry professionals assembling to work for systemic change. We joined forces to envision and prototype better systems and develop adequately radical responses to the climate emergency.
I craft narratives that reveal what people care about and the value they create, inspiring them to act together.
Recognition
- Top 50 creative leaders in the UK, Creative Review (2016)
- MBA in Creative Leadership, Berlin School of Creative Leadership (2020)
- Grand Prix, Four Golds and a Highly Commended – MotoGP, Transform Awards (2026)
- Media Brand of the Year – Discovery, Media Week Awards (2011 & 2015)
- Best Factual Channel – Discovery, UK Broadcast Awards (2010, 2012, 2013 and 2015)
- Specialist Channel of the Year – Animal Planet, Broadcast Awards (2014)
- Best Channel Identity / Design – Animal Planet, Cannes Lions (2013)
- Best Channel Marketing – Discovery, UK Broadcast Awards (2012 and 2013)
- Website of the year (TV) for three years running – discoveryuk.com
- Design team of the year – Discovery Creative, GEMA (formerly Promax Europe, 2013)
- Best Broadcast Design – Discovery Channel, Design Week Awards (2012)
- Best Channel Branding – Discovery Channel, GEMA (Promax UK, 2012)
- Marketing Team of the Year – Discovery Creative, GEMA (Promax World, 2012)
- Creative Team of The Year – Discovery Creative, GEMA (Promax World, 2011)
- Channel of the Year – Discovery Channel, GEMA (Promax UK, 2011)
- D&AD “in Book” Award – Bear Grylls Campaign (2011)
