Hello! My name is Michela Puglia, and I am a multidisciplinary Innovation Design Engineer based in Zürich. I currently work at On, where my role sits at the frontier of footwear manufacturing. I work on LightSpray™, combining robot programming and computational design to redefine how footwear is made.
Prior to On, I gained experience in Biomaterial Development at Arda Biomaterials and Computational Design and Engineering at Adidas, and completed my MEng at Imperial College London. Across these experiences, I've built a diverse skill set spanning product design and development, programming, and robotics.
I am passionate about driving innovation in environmentally friendly projects, particularly within the fashion, textiles, apparel, and footwear industries. My background allows me to approach challenges from multiple perspectives, blending engineering principles with creative design to deliver practical, impactful solutions.
For more information,
If you're interested in collaborating with me or learning more about my work, feel free to reach out via email, Linked In or Instagram.
Publications
Puglia et al. 2024 | The circular policy canvas: Mapping the European Union's policies for a sustainable fashion textiles industry | Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Volume 204 |
Awards
Global Footwear Awards | Winner in Women’s Fashion | 2024 |
Global Footwear Awards | Winner in Natural Materials/Vegan Footwear | 2024 |
Press
Stir World | Isola Design Festival energises Milan with ‘Conscious Objects’ | 2025 |
Pearls Magazine | Designing a Shoe Out of Whisky Waste | 2025 |
Future Materials Bank | Whisky Waste | 2025 |
Exhibitions
Milan Design Week | Conscious Objects - A Collective Exhibition Curated by Isola Design | 2025 |