Meet VANDA’s Team

Valentina graduated in Architecture at Politecnico di Milano in 2005 and immediately started working in the Piuarch studio, an experience that would shape her approach to the profession. Working on top-level projects for clients such as Dolce e Gabbana allowed Valentina to grow in the field of retail design at the highest level of quality. After two years she moved to London, where she began photographing architecture and writing articles for magazines in this field. Back in Italy, in 2010 she founded the Nomade Architettura studio in Milan and in 2013, with Aurora De La Fuente, she decided to start the VANDA adventure. Valentina’s passion for design runs deep in her lifestyle. More than just work, design is for Valentina a mission, an approach to life and a state of mind. Her interdisciplinary approach provide her project with diversity and unique and powerful aesthetic impact.

Aurora de la Fuente Manjón, architect and retail designer, graduated in Interior Architecture at the University of Burgos (Spain) in 2007. She worked with several Spanish studies before moving to Milan, where in 2009 she attended the master “Interior Design for Luxury living” at Istituto Marangoni. She designed several sets for fashion shows and stands for important brands in the fashion industry: Adidas, Moschino, Alexander McQueen, Dockers, See by Chloe in Italy and Europe. At the same time she also worked as a “graphic designer” for several companies in Milan. In 2010, she began a collaboration with Gucci designing and building shop-windows for showrooms all over the world, Pop ups, exhibitions, stands. This year, she started her professional partnership with Valentina Elmiger. In 2011, Aurora moved to Vigo, in the north of Spain, where she worked for four years at BIMBA Y LOLA as a store planner, window display designer and international event planner.