Giovanni started his career at the age of 14, working in the marble sector as a go-getter.
By the time he was 16, he was capable of completing floorings by himself for his older brother’s business.
In 1984, at the age of 18, Giovanni contributed 50% of the investment and entered into a business partnership
with his brother by establishing F.LLI Barbieri.
By then, the company had already started producing tumbled marbles for its own projects.
At the age of 22, Giovanni started attending school courses in interior design from 1989 to 1997.
His best results were achieved on building site projects – projects where he worked together with the architects who taught the classes.
These collaborations reinforced a period of strong progression: Giovanni was the only project developer and supplier of marble tiles that came exclusively from the Family Stone company and personally supervised the installations.
The emphasis was placed on the production process and the design of new products; first for the local market,
then all the way to the United States, thanks to the excellent understanding of design, research and development and the excellent longstanding collaboration with Nancy Epstein.

Many patents were developed in the late 90’s such as “MARMO ANTICO LUCIDO”; “FRAMENTI BORDER”; “TIMEWORN MARBLE” and more were to follow.
Giovanni participated in various Contemporary Art Competitions receiving a special mention in Torino in 2003 with Roberto Lanaro, a renowned European Metal Artist-Sculptor.
In 2008, “AMBRA COLLECTION” received an American Architecture award and was featured at “Triennale Design Museum” in Milan for more than a year.
In 2010, Giovanni started his successful collaboration with Sara Baldwin developing irreproducible Timeworn Mosaics a best seller after 10 years, as well as Ambra.

Giovanni Barbieri has been a source of inspiration for many renowned brands resulting in the successful reproduction of his Inventions and Techniques; AMBRA is an example reproduced by many.
In 2013, the first Engineered 3D Marble Tiles Collections Exciton/Hive was awarded at Best-Of-Year INTERIOR DESIGN. This Collection is produced by recycling marble dust from production waste for high performance installation where natural stone is not preferred.
In 2013, the Memento Porcelain Tile Collection was Best-of-Year INTERIOR DESIGN Award-winner with Vallelunga Ceramica.
In 2014, Giovanni was the Winner of the London Surface Design Award with “CLAS” on Belgian project.
2015 is the year of the Murano Collection; Award Winner at Best-Of-Year INTERIOR DESIGN, NYC.
In 2016, the world’s first true 3D porcelain tile collection “TRILOGY”, winner of BoY INTERIOR DESIGN, was
presented in the USA and at New York City Design Award in May 2017 at the MoMa in NYC.
2017 marks the launch of new shading flat 3D wall tiles: “Collection RR”.
In 2018, a new chapter begins with new Antiqued handmade Black terracotta tiles in an “easy-care” version: the “Minimal Rustic Collection”.
2018-19-20 was the initial success of the first version of SQUAR[E] Collection, between the tile collection and Art performance, it won triple awards in the USA also at the BoY Awards, and by ARCHITECTURAL RECORD USA.
Magazine also with the handmade ceramic tile collection “KLE”.
2020 is over and the Terrazzo Collection “The Fine Lines” was nominated Overall Winner at SBID (The Society of British International Interior Design) product design Awards in London.
INTERIOR DESIGN USA: Best of Year Awards nominated Giovanni one of the four best Product Designers.
The Fine Lines Terrazzo Collection won a Boutique Design New York International Design Competition in the Floor Covering Category.
On 2021 March, Squar[e] ceramic tile size 2” x 2” 3/4 received the Red Dot Product Design 2021 Award.
The Fine Lines Terrazzo is Award winner at last 17th  Hospitality Awards in NYC at Cipriani NYC Event last September 21st, thanks a marvellous cooperation with the excellence in Terrazzo handmade 3rd generation family of Laboratorio Morseletto in Vicenza.
Depthile Carrara Marble tiles has been installed on INTERIOR DESIGN Best Of Year Award Winner project/Bath by Snorre Stinessen in Norway.
On 2022, “Le Piastrelle Segnate” designed for Fornace Brioni, become the Red Dot Design Best of the Best Award winner, probably the most important European product design award, established in 1955.
2023 started beautifully with  the receipt of the third Red Dot Product Design Award, Best of the Best with Blooming collection.
To view all of the awards received, click HERE