ABOUT ELLA X ELLA

who we are
our studio
Ellaquadro is a multidisciplinary design studio founded in Milan in 2020 by a couple of designers with similar backgrounds but different sensibilities. Partners in work and life, together they create a duo able to move across product, furniture, interior, communication design and design management. Their work stems from a tireless curiosity and desire to find new solutions for a better world.

MATTEO SQUAIELLA
Matteo is a Product designer.
Born in Ferrara (Italy) in 1984, with an art background he studied first at IUAV, where he obtained his bechelor degree in Industrial Design, and then at the Politecnico di Milano, where he completed his studies with a Master degree in Product Design for Innovation.
He collaborated with different design studios in Milan, amongs them SenseLab, Alberto Nason Design Studio, Shannon Sadler Design Studio. In the academic field he collaborates in the Design department at the Politecnico di Milano.
LAURA TARDELLA
Laura is a Product, Communication and Strategy designer.
Born in Tolentino (Italy) in 1993, after classical studies she obtained a bachelor degree in Design from the University of San Marino Republic and a Master degree in Product Design for Innovation from Politecnico di Milano, with full marks and honours. As a freelancer, she collaborates with Total Tool Milano for Product, System and Strategy design and she is a teaching assistant in Geometry for Design, course helded by Prof. Ramin Razani at the Bachelor Degree in Design in San Marino University. She carried out internships in particular at Kensaku Oshiro design studio and at Spalvieri & Del Ciotto design studio. Her work has also been awarded by ADI, Italian Association for Industrial Design.
Matteo Squaiella
Laura Tardella
Matteo is a Product designer.
Born in Ferrara (Italy) in 1984, with an art background he studied first at IUAV, where he obtained his bachelor degree in Industrial Design, and then at the Politecnico di Milano, where he completed his studies with a Master degree in Product Design for Innovation.
He collaborated with different design studios in Milan, among them SenseLab, Alberto Nason Design Studio, Shannon Sadler Design Studio. He is the co-founder of Ellaquadro design studio, with Laura Tardella. In the academic field, he is a professor at the Department of Design of Politecnico di Milano.
Laura is a Product, Communication and Strategy designer.
Born in Tolentino (Italy) in 1993, after classical studies she obtained a bachelor’s degree in Design from the University of San Marino Republic and a Master’s degree in Product Design for Innovation from Politecnico di Milano, with full marks and honors. She is the co-founder of Ellaquadro design studio, with Matteo Squaiella. In the academic field, she was a teaching assistant in Geometry for Design, course held by Prof. Ramin Razani at the Bachelor Degree in Design at San Marino University. She worked at Total Tool Milano as Product, System and Strategy designer and carried out internships in particular at Kensaku Oshiro design studio and at Spalvieri & Del Ciotto industrial design studio. Her work has also been awarded by ADI, Italian Association for Industrial Design.
Awards
• World IP Day 2022 / Special selection
Theme: IP and Youth - Innovating for a Better Future
PONO: Fastening system
Project by Laura Tardella, C. C. Antonietti, L. Yue, M. Pontillo, M. Tolomei, M. Zangoli
- April 2022
• DIA, Design Intelligence Award / Honorable Mention
SOZO: Children playground for war areas
Project by Ellaquadro
- October 2021
• ADI Targa Giovani / Honorable Mention
PONO: Fastening system
Project by Laura Tardella, C. C. Antonietti, L. Yue, M. Pontillo, M. Tolomei, M. Zangoli
- September 2020
• Expo Dubai 2020, Connecting Spaces / Winning project
Competition winning project with "CO-SITE", modular system for the Italian Pavilion.
Project by Matteo Squaiella, Hankang Jin, Steven Reyes
- August 2020
• University Seal - UNIRSM Design
to Laura Tardella “in product design, for the victory of national and international competitions with projects that promote a sustainable behavior for the environment and communities”
- May 2019
• Certificate “Lombardy Excellences”
Recognition by Lombardy Region, Italy
to “PONO: Fastening System”
Project by Laura Tardella, C. C. Antonietti, L. Yue, M. Pontillo, M. Tolomei, M. Zangoli
- December 2018
• ADI Design Index / Targa Giovani 2018
Selection of “PONO: Fastening system”
Index edited by ADI - Industrial Design Association
Selected project by Laura Tardella, C. C. Antonietti, L. Yue, M. Pontillo, M. Tolomei, M. Zangoli
- October 2018
• Nutella - Hack the Icon / 1st Prize
Winning project of the hackathon
“Caffè?” - moka coffee dispenser
Powered by Nutella Italy, Wired Italy, Alessi,
Politecnico di Milano
Project by Laura Tardella, Alberto Zerbi
- March 2018
• Mural dedicated to Arch. Albini / Winning project
Realization of a mural dedicated to Arch. Franco Albini
Powered by Franco Albini Foundation, Politecnico di Milano, Triennale di Milano, Comune di Milano
Project by Laura Tardella, Seda Ayvazyan, Marica Magnifico, Marilisa Pontillo
Ponte Via Curie, Milan
- April 2017
• Fabric-Action / Winning project MDW17
Selection and exposition of “Paidìa” - hemp baby coat
Powered by Politecnico di Milano, Polifactory, Sant’Anatolia's Museo della Canapa
Project by Laura Tardella, C. C. Antonietti, M. Tolomei
Place: Università Statale di Milano
Milan Design Week 2017
- April 2017
+ Fabric-Action, initiative selected for ADI Index 2018
- October 2018
• 3D Hubs - Fashion Accessories / 1st Prize
Fashion accessories design contest
Powered by Confartigianato Imprese Marche
Project by Laura Tardella, Chiara Pirro
- December 2015
Publications
with "STAR ARCHETYPES" - virtual installation
Pixel City by DOS - Design Open’ Spaces,
Project by Ellaquadro
Milan Design Week 2020
- October 2020
• XXVI Compasso d'Oro, Attestato Targa Giovani
with "PONO: Fastening system"
Project by Laura Tardella, C. C. Antonietti, L. Yue, M. Pontillo, M. Tolomei, M. Zangoli
ADI - Industrial Design Association
- September 2020
• Living Corriere
Article "Giovani designer volano a Expo Dubai 2020"
with "CO-SITE"
Project by Matteo Squaiella, Hanjang Jin, Steven Reyes. With Acell Italy srl
Corriere della Sera
- October 2019
• Smart City - people, technology, materials
/ Edizioni LSWR
with "The 6 Smart Stilts" Installation
Material Connexion's Exposition book
Installation's research and coordination by Laura Tardella
- March-April 2019
• ADI Design Index 2018
with "PONO: Fastening system"
Project by Laura Tardella, C. C. Antonietti, L. Yue, M. Pontillo, M. Tolomei, M. Zangoli
ADI - Industrial Design Association
- October 2018
• Wired Italy
Article "Hack The Icon, il vasetto di Nutella
diventa dosatore per la moka"
with "Caffè?" - moka coffee dispencer
Project by Laura Tardella, Alberto Zerbi
Wired Italy
- May 2018
• Pop Up Magazine
Article "Conversazioni sul ruolo del design nell’upcycling"
PopHouse Magazine n.4
Interview with Laura Tardella and the other winners of "Nutella - Hack the Icon"
- March 2018
• Shapediver
Article "Turn On The Light"
with "Clam" lampshade
Project by Laura Tardella for Zooi Fucina
- December 2017
• Domus
Article "Le sorprese della canapa"
with "Paidìa" - hemp baby coat
Project by Laura Tardella, C. C. Antonietti, M. Tolomei
Domus Green
- September 2017
• Interni Magazine
Article "Fabric Action, Valnerina Experience"
with "Paidìa" - hemp baby coat
Project by Laura Tardella, C. C. Antonietti, M. Tolomei
Interni n.3
Project by Laura Tardella
- June 2017
• Corriere dal Sera
Article "Dai tessuti ai pannelli edili. Così la canapa risolleva l’Umbria ferita dal sisma"
with "Paidìa" - hemp baby coat
Project by Laura Tardella, C. C. Antonietti, M. Tolomei
Corriere della Sera
- April 2017
• Riflesso Magazine
Article "Un tributo al designer Richard Sapper"
Riflesso Magazine
By Matteo Squaiella
- April 2017
• Giro Giro Tondo. Design for children
Exhibition book
with "Wooden Sculpture"
Electa
Project by Matteo Squaiella
- April 2017
• Riflesso Magazine
Article "Il design sociale nella sua dimensione umana"
Riflesso Magazine
By Matteo Squaiella
- April 2016