An architect, Franco Achilli trained with Alfred Hohenegger, Giorgio Fioravanti and Gianni Sassi, then at the New York School of Visual Arts. After acting as assistant to Emilio Fioravanti at G&R Associati, he opened his own first office in Milan in 1985 with Guglielmo Ghizzardi and Mario Piazza. In 1995, he launched A+G Achilli Ghizzardi Associati, which he still runs today, working in architecture, brand and exhibition design, and publishing graphics. His clients in a career spanning over thirty years have included industrial and commercial groups, publishers and international organisations. He has continuous experience in lecturing in design schools and teaches Visual Identity in Brands at the IULM University in Milan. He has been a Visiting Professor at the Northern Illinois University and had held courses at the University of Palermo, the Art Institute of Chicago, Milan Polytechnic, the IUAV in Venice and other universities. The acknowledgements he has received for his teaching work include ten awards from the Designer & Art Directors Club of London. He has written and edited publications about design and his work has featured in leading international magazines.