Fabrizio Cocchiarella MA(RCA) FHEA
Senior Lecturer
Interior Design
Fabrizio Cocchiarella is a designer, lecturer and researcher working with MA Interiors and BA(Hons) Interior Design at Manchester School of Art. Projects aim to investigate new approaches to design that contribute to innovating and shaping future scenarios for the designed environment.
Specialist expertise and experience is routed in the production and manufacture of product, furniture, artefact and installation projects. The discipline of design is viewed as an interface from which to mediate and translate critical methodologies and commercial practices.
Projects
Research Projects
Through collaboration as part of the design research group and platforms such as Unit X and UFO, research aims to explore a multi-specialist approach to develop new ‘ways of seeing’ and interpreting the encounter of everyday phenomena. Design practice aims to produce insightful, thought provoking work, creating projects that are not necessarily using the language of design norms, but rather re-inventing ways of looking at and experiencing our relationship with the physical (and metaphysical) through ‘para-design’. Details…
Research
Fabrizio Cocchiarella is a member of the Design Research Hub.
Exhibitions
Cocchiarella, F., Shaw, A., 2020. Radical Response Milan, Ventura Projects, Dezeen Virtual Design Festival 2020, 15/4/2020 - 30/6/2020.
Cocchiarella, F., Shaw, A., McCullagh, J., Stephens, M., Grimshaw, D., Mulhearn, E., Kettle, A., McCullough, I., McCullagh, J., Hitchen, J., Egan, K., Aubrey, K., Raven, L., Gannon, L., Biggs, L., Setterington, L., Beecroft, M., McLeish, M., Threlfall, S., 2019. Radical Response exhibition in partnership with the International Association of Design Research (IASDR) Conference, Manchester School of Art, Manchester, 2/9/2019 - 5/9/2019.
Kettle, A., 2016. A Place at the Table, Pallant House Gallery, Chichester, 25th November 2014 – 18th January 2015.
Kettle, A.M., Brown, V., Grimshaw, D., Egan, K., Cocchiarella, F., 2014. A Place at the Table, 25/11/2014 - 18/1/2015.
Artefacts
Cocchiarella, F., Hayward, E., 2014. 'Toosils', A collection of writing tools that propose alternative perspectives on everyday artefacts associated with practices of craft within the traditional spheres of domestic and trade contexts., Pallant House, Chichester, 19th November 2014.
Cocchiarella, F., Hayward, E., 2013. 'Liminal Ladder', An illustrative object utilizing traditional making skills, digital processes and media, created for various exhibitions and locations., ‘Ways to Escape’ 2022nq, Manchester, as part of Future Everything Festival, March 2013. & ‘Seamless: The Digital in Design’ at the Museum of Architecture and Design (MAO) Ljubljana, Slovenia,, September - November 2013.
Performances
Cocchiarella, F. Hayward, E., 2016. 'Pomona Encounters - Pomona's Beauty Spots', Pomona Island, 26th July 2016.
Cocchiarella, F., 2006. 'Master of Fear', Whitechapel Gallery, London, August 2006.
Books
Cocchiarella, F. Haley, D. Vargas, V., 2016. 'Fruitful Futures: Imagining Pomona', Gaia Project.
Book Chapters
Cocchiarella, F., 2025. 'Neighbourhood: More than_Human_Communities: how can design work with nature to steward new forms of communities, creating spaces and engagement where species meet?'. In Ahmad, L., Sosa, M. (eds.) Teaching for Sustainable Futures: Community, Construction and Creativity, Routledge.
Cocchiarella, F.N., Vargas, V., Titterington, S., Hayley, D., 2017. 'Research informed sustainable development through art and design pedagogic practices'. In Leal Filho, W. (eds.) Implementing sustainability in the curriculum of universities : approaches, methods and projects, pp. 207-221, Springer, Cham.
Internet Publications
Cocchiarella, F., Hayward, E., 2009. 'Prohibition Culture', LSN Global.
Journal Articles
Booth, P., Cocchiarella, F., 2015. 'Students as Producers: An 'X' Disciplinary Client-Based Approach to Collaborative Art, Design and Media Pedagogy', International Journal of Art and Design Education, 34, pp. 326-335.
Conference Papers
Drinkwater, K.E.N., Cocchiarella, F., 2019. 'In Search of the Anomalous: Relationships between the design of interior space, darkness', The Thrill of the Dark, BIRMINGHAM, 25/4/2019 - 27/4/2019, in https://thethrillofthedark.com/2019/04/27/latest-version-of-programme-and-abstracts-now-available/.
Cocchiarella, F., Drinkwater, K., 2019. 'Para-design: Engaging the Anomalous, a design research workshop to investigate paranormal phenomena through a series of location based studies.', IASDR 2019, Manchester Metropolitan University, 2/9/2019 - 5/9/2019, in https://iasdr2019.org/research-papers?category=&keywords=cocchiarella.
Cocchiarella, F., Drinkwater, K., Dagnall, N., 2018. 'Para-design: The role of design practice in interpreting paranormal phenomena', 9/7/2018 - 10/7/2018, in FRIHSC.
Presentations
McCullagh, J., Cocchiarella, F., 2018. ''Engaging with the city: utilising spaces outside the university as places for transformative learning through collaborative vertical studio teaching in art and design'', Mancheseter Met.
Cocchiarella, F., Booth, P., 2014. 'Students as Producers: An ‘X’ disciplinary approach to collaborative Art, Design and Media pedagogy', iJade: Collaborative Practices in Arts Education, Tate Liverpool, 24th & 25th October 2014.
Other Outputs
Cocchiarella, F.N., Haley, D., Vargas, V., 2016. 'Fruitful Futures: Imagining Pomona'.
Cocchiarella, F. Wehmeyer van den Boom, J., 2016. 'Pomona Island Design Lab', Design Lab Project.
Cocchiarella, F. Higgins, S, 2015. 'Mise en Scene', Collaborative project with the RNCM.