Astrid Franz was born in 1965, in Lörrach, near the Black Forest, in Germany. 1984 After training for three years as a typographer, she worked for three years as a photolithographer. 1988 Artworker at WERBEAGENTUR URS TSCHAN AG, in Basel, Switzerland, a full-service advertising agency serving various markets. At the same time, she did a 3-year graphic design course at SCHULE FÜR GESTALTUNG in Basel. 1992 Joined PR AKOS BRODER LOEB AG in Basel, an agency specializing in the environment, and worked on various projects for the cities of Basel and Winterthur.
1995 Moved to Milan to work as art director at R+W, a graphic design studio specializing in the fashion and design sectors; premium clients included Trussardi, Romeo Gigli, Genny, Ermenegildo Zegna, Cassina and Jacopo Foggini. 1998 New start in Genoa as a free-lance, working for Kartell, AFM Verlag (Munich publisher), Sagep (Genoa publisher), Mares (scuba equipment) and ADT Taverna (insurance brokers). 2001 Designed the logo and corporate identity of ESTHETICAL ART, the new beauty division of RGM. 2005 Communication projects for Milan-based PR agency ATTILA & CO (Mont Blanc, Breil, Outrage, Timberland, L’Orèal and Spazio Pontaccio). Work for CONDE’ NAST on projects, exhibitions and fairs for Vogue Gioiello and Vogue Pelle. Image consulting for DAVIDE PIZZIGONI (architect).
From 2006 to date Luxury tourism: image restyling, below the line, advertising and web projects for HOTEL LE SIRENUSE in Positano (Amalfi coast) and GRAND HOTEL MIRAMARE in Santa Margherita Ligure (both in the LHW – Leading Hotels of the World chain). Image renewal for HOTEL LONDRA PALACE in Venice (SLH – Small Luxury Hotels chain), MAGIC LODGES in Libya and HOTEL GANISCHGERHOF in the Dolomites. 2011 Designed a co-ordinated identity for BORGO DEI CONTI RESORT,
a mediaeval site in Perugia (Umbria) converted to a hotel. Most recent project: DORFSTUBE, a traditional Black Forest style restaurant “exported” to Düsseldorf.