How I Work: Pepsi Chief Design Officer Mauro Porcini
Mauro Porcini has built PepsiCo’s design team over the past 11 years. Design by Barbara Cadorna.
A decade ago, PepsiCo launched PepsiCo Design + Innovation and brought on its first-ever Chief Design Officer, Mauro Porcini, setting the stage for a ten-year transformation into a company driven by cutting-edge design-led innovation and creativity.
With over 1,800 design and innovation awards under their belt, PepsiCo Design + Innovation have engaged in noteworthy collaborations, including Doritos x Netflix’s Stranger Things, Gatorade Fuel Lab collaboration with Serena Williams, and even an experience at Milan Design Week where attendees could design their own drinks. Their achievements are now celebrated in Porcini and PepsiCo’s new book, Good Design Is for Everyone, which provides an exciting deep dive into how PepsiCo harnesses human-centered design to create meaningful moments of culture and connection. Here, Porcini shares how he works with a focus on curiosity, happiness, and love for people.
The book jacket cover is bright and looks delicous. Images courtesy of Porcini.
1. Rise and Shine
I start the morning with ten minutes of meditation. Then I spend about five minutes cuddling with my three dogs, Leone, Lupo, and Bella. For about fifteen minutes, I check through social media and do daily posts. Then it’s food for the dogs and a quick espresso for me. I shower and pick out an outfit. Wake up my 1.5-year-old daughter, Beatrice, kiss my wife, Carlotta, and I am ready to work.
2. Work Uniform
I have a huge shoe collection, with 350+ pairs, so maybe I’ll choose something crazy from there. Black shirt. Slim-fit trousers and jacket.
3. How I Structure My Day
I don’t have a set structure that I follow. Every day is different. One thing that is a must is some human interaction. Some quiet time to think is another must, but it often happens on the move—from home to office, from meeting to meeting, from dining room to bedtime.
PepsiCo x Money Heist = Fun+.
4. Playlist Favorites
I love to be surprised by the weekly playlist generated for me by Spotify’s AI.
5. Tools of the Trade
My phone and my curiosity. Everything else is just an additional accessory, not indispensable.
PepsiCo’s colorful packaging design shows how we are all as unique as our fingerprints.
6. Dream Studio
Our PepsiCo Creative Center in Manhattan.
7. One Unique Thing About My Work Process…
I am obsessed with one idea in particular: “people in love with people.” There are three big dimensions of love in my life. First, my love for the people I serve with PepsiCo’s ideas, products, and brands. Second, the love for what I do every day, as a designer and as a human being. Third, the love for the people surrounding me, from my family and friends to my colleagues and partners. The big secret to manifesting this love is that my work life and my personal life are totally blended together. And that’s fun!
Porcini’s designs IRL and on display in Shanghai.
8. Mantra
I am going to repeat myself: let’s be people in love with people!
9. My Brightest Idea that Never Saw the Light of Day
A machine that reads your physical needs and emotional wants and creates the perfect food and drink for you.
10. To-Do List Item that Keeps Me Up at Night
To make my daughter happy by inspiring and empowering her to be herself. Make my wife happy, by being there for her. Make my dogs happy, by being the parent that they never had. Make people around me happy, by simply being kind. Make my company happy, by creating meaningful solutions to people's needs and wants. All of this is what finally makes me happy too.
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