Mario Gagliardi is CEO of the Design Zone Qatar, a new member of Qatar Foundation and a visionary development project for the first global creative hub in the Arabian Gulf. Mr. Gagliardi crafted the strategy for the Design Zone while leading mg strategy, a think-tank for design. The Design Zone will be a place to inspire, a platform for education, and a catalyst for design thinking and innovation. The Design Zone will be a global forum for creative minds and entrepreneurial leaders in a large-scale area exclusively dedicated to international creative industries. It is the first major project in the Gulf dedicated entirely to creativity and design. The Design Zone will give imaginative young people in Qatar, and all over the world, the possibility of shaping the future.

Prior to his appointment by Qatar Foundation, Mr.Gagliardi advised the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Culture and contributed in shaping a design culture in Korea as chief designer of LG, advisor for the Korea Institute of Design Promotion, and advisor for Samsung. He was also a designer and design director in the electronics, fashion, and banking sectors. He has taught in universities worldwide and has authored articles on design and strategy that have been published in six languages. He leads design and development projects across disciplines and has been awarded numerous prizes such as the Domus design prize and the Good Design Mark of the Korean Republic. He holds an MBA from the University of Westminster and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.