A major figure in Italian design, Maria Christina Hamel was born in New Delhi in 1958.

She graduated from the Milan School of Design in 1979 and became Alessandro Mendini’s assistant. She directed work groups for Alessi, Swarovski, Rado, Swatch and Turler.
In 1992 she presented her ceramic work entitled “Una zebra a pois”, followed in 1993 by “Mille bolle blu”.
She then diversified her work by designing for renowned names in glassware and ceramics.

For Salviati she designed Cuore, Pensiero and Coccole.