Introducing DÁ Strategy
Determine and Act
begins with a single step.
LAO TZU 老子
We devise and adapt
We define and advise
We determine and act
What we do
DÁ Strategy is a consulting firm focused on design & niche sectors. Its core advisory activity is in Business Strategy, Branding & Communication and Design Project Management.
DÁ Strategy creates, develops and strengthens brand visibility and philosophy, with the aim to reach the desired market positioning across Asia and Europe.
Consolidated experience in relevant roles within top-class global brands and companies has enabled us to acquire international professional skills and wide networks, while our dual linguistic and cultural background provide a smooth path and a vital bridge between West and East, from Milan to Shanghai.
Who we are
Ying Huang
Ying started her career in Value Partners as business analyst and junior strategic consultant, then moved to the kids’ garments and fashion industry with Preca Brummel. She developed her expertise in the design sector, working with the high-end lighting company Flos. In recognition of her ambitious vision for developing Flos in Asia, after a period of training and job rotation at Flos headquarters in Italy, she was assigned to the green-field startup project of Flos China, where she followed the launch, expansion and consolidation of Flos’ Chinese branch as Managing Director.
In that capacity, Ying acquired in-depth knowledge of the managerial and strategic issues faced by brands in the design sector wishing to operate in the Chinese market, and she built an extensive network of designers and architects. The combination of these two vital skills enables her to combine the communication and market strategies indispensable to ensure a brand’s development, while maintaining its consistent image throughout international markets.
Angela Hua
Angela worked in the design and luxury fields in China for twenty years. She was the head of PR and Marketing and Communications for corporations such as SHANG XIA found by Hermès group, Design Republic, and Neri&Hu.
She has decades-long experience in planning creative events, managing both traditional and social media, and developing communication and networking strategies with Chinese designers, architects, celebrities and élite customer groups.
These skills have given her a unique professional competence in establishing and developing brands in the Chinese market.
After living and working in Milan for over ten years, Angela sees her experience as “one life, two cities”, which grants her an unmatched ability to navigate and interpret the philosophy of a brand, and to create a unique message skillfully integrated in the local culture.
Get to know us through
our Professional Highlights
Lorenzi Milano
DÁ Strategy, ongoing
– Market opportunities scouting & management
– Communication strategy、Chinese social media content creation & execution
Salone 2023
DÁ Strategy, April 2023
– VIP Asia clients booth visit and training
– VIP Asia clients exclusive dinner at Molteni Pavillion
– Live Streaming interview with Vincent Van Duysen
Featured: VIP with Roberto Ruspoli artistic photo booth setting, Vincent Van Duysen live broadcasting.
POLIdesign official authorized live broadcast interviews for Salone del Mobile 2023
DÁ Strategy, April 2023
– Guest speakers coordination – Live Streaming moderator in Chinese, Italian and English
DÁ strategy, 2022 – present
– Distribution network qualitative assessment
– China Marketing “plan and action” proposal
– Supervision of social media planning
– Content optimization and copy-writing check
– Dealers’ marketing overview and coordination
– Special marketing projects (Salone Live streaming, KOL management…)
– Events coordination and supervision
A table setting and a floral installation, crafted by the stylist Seven, shows how to translate Molteni & Co.’s elegance into a celebration of the Chinese New Year.
POLIdesign and Lantao
for Salone del Mobile 2022
Ying Huang, June 2022
– Content planning and organization
– Guest speakers’ coordination
– Live streaming moderator in Chinese, Italian and English
– Post Salone round table and panel discussion
SHANG XIA
Hermès Group
Angela Hua, 2009 – 2011
– Brand awareness strategy, develop and implement communication strategies and campaigns
– Build and maintain relationships with targeted international and domestic media and influencers. Identify and manage press opportunities and build a brand messaging framework in order to drive the visibility of the brand and gain high-quality coverage
– Event Planning and Management
– Annual Communication budget and manage the workflow of the Communications team.
Flos S.p.A
Ying Huang, 2007 – 2013
– Site identification and design coordination
– Local team structure hiring and training
– Logistic platform and flow set up and optimization
– Distribution network expansion and consolidation
– Brand and store image supervision
– Marketing activities planning and budgeting
design republic
Angela Hua, 2006 – 2009
– Branding positioning and awareness buildup
– Design events organization & management
– International and local media relations. Deliver the brand’s message through various media to reach target audiences
– Filter international and domestic press interviews requires and drive coverage story in order to reach a achieve ideal press converge
– Responsible for In-house publication: Manifesto
– Managing public relations budgets
What They Say About Us
...
Lastly, I cannot but emphasise Ying's seriousness, passion and deontological correctness, qualities that, together with the professionalism of her overall profile, make her a valuable asset in any organisation, of the most varied levels of complexity and cultural spheres.
Angela offered keen market insight and could rely on a useful range of personal networks in the design and media world which benefited our organization as we helped key partners such as Moooi, Tom Dixon, and many others to enter the China design market and build a firm foundation for their business growth.
Design
is always
an education.
Enzo Mari
Caring, learning and enjoying “getting our hands dirty” rules our daily life, professionally and otherwise.
We love culture exchange and mixing, we believe in growing and glowing together.
Thus, we support pro-bono MIX Cultural Association (www.mixitaly.org), dedicated to help younger generations to open their minds and hearts through cultural and linguistic cross-fertilization.
Let’s start the journey!
DÁ takes care
of every single step
in your strategy
to new horizons,
from the beginning
of the trip
to destination.
Perhaps the Torino bull at the Galleria of Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan does bring good luck, as the legends say, and driving people to return once again. After exploring many cities in Europe, I decided to settle in Milan as my second home.
Milan, like Shanghai, is the largest commercial city in Italy, attracting Italians from different regions who come here to achieve good opportunities for work and living.
“In Milan, Brera is reminiscent of Shanghai’s Xintiandi, Piazza Duomo is akin to People’s Square, Via Montenapoleone resembles Nanjing West Road…” I enjoy introducing my second hometown in this lively and humorous way to my friends who visit here.
Milan, like Shanghai, is a dynamic city with its distinctive culture, fashion, design, and booming economy, is the city I like the most!
Featured: Angela with Aladin and Sherazade doors @glasitalia
Angela
@angelahyf
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#DAstrategy #DetermineandAct #Branding #Communication #BusinessStrategy #DesignProjectManagement #Design #NicheSectors #Milan #Shanghai #PassionAndProfessionalism #Italian #Chinese #BrandAwareness #BrandPhilosophy #ManagerialStrategicIssues #BusinessDevelopment #DesignEvent #Salonedelmobile #GalleriaVittorioEmanuele #Brera #Xintiandi #PiazzaDuomo #PeoplesSquare #ViaMontenapoleone #NanjingWestRoad #ViaTorino #glasitalia
Shanghai was the dream metropole when I was a kid.
Shanghai became the city I mention to friends since I moved in Italy, explaining where I am from.
It is the place I visited on many occasions, for business and for personal trip back to China.
Above all, Shanghai is a beating heart.
Alive and warm, full of modern and traditional contrast.
Shanghai reveals its spirit in Sciangai: foldable, extendible, functional, colorful, playful… Adorable.
Featured: Ying with Sciangai hanger @zanotta_spa
Ying
@vagabondying
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#DAstrategy #DetermineandAct #Branding #Communication #BusinessStrategy #DesignProjectManagement #Design #NicheSectors #Milan #Shanghai #PassionAndProfessionalism #Italian #Chinese #BrandAwareness #BrandPhilosophy #ManagerialStrategicIssues #BusinessDevelopment #DesignEvent #Zanotta #Salonedelmobile
It’s been an unforgettable year of ideas seeding.
When two friends start to work on a common project from scratch, there is a new layer unfolding in the friendship.
Delicate and unpredictable.
We took care of this process.
Most of the time we had similar vision, sometimes we discussed fervently.
In every single moment we encouraged and supported each other.
Featured: Molteni&C Salone 2023
DÁ Strategy took care of
Asia VIP clients’ booth guided tour
Asia VIP headquarter visit & gala dinner
Ying & Angela
#DAstrategy #DetermineandAct #Branding #Communication #BusinessStrategy #DesignProjectManagement #Design #NicheSectors #Milan #Shanghai #PassionAndProfessionalism #Italian #Chinese #BrandAwareness #BrandPhilosophy #ManagerialStrategicIssues #BusinessDevelopment #DesignEvent #Molteni&C #Salonedelmobile #VincentVanDuysen
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Milano Shanghai
#DAstrategy #DetermineandAct #Branding #Communication #BusinessStrategy #DesignProjectManagement #Design #NicheSectors
#Milan #Shanghai #PassionAndProfessionalism #Italian #Chinese #BrandAwareness #BrandPhilosophy #ManagerialStrategicIssues #BusinessDevelopment
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YING HUANG
#DAstrategy #DetermineandAct #Branding #Communication #BusinessStrategy #DesignProjectManagement #Design #NicheSectors #Milan #Shanghai #PassionAndProfessionalism #Italian #Chinese #BrandAwareness #BrandPhilosophy #ManagerialStrategicIssues #BusinessDevelopment
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ANGELA HUA
#DAstrategy #DetermineandAct #Branding #Communication #BusinessStrategy #DesignProjectManagement #Design #NicheSectors #Milan #Shanghai #PassionAndProfessionalism #Italian #Chinese #BrandAwareness #BrandPhilosophy #ManagerialStrategicIssues #BusinessDevelopment
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MANIFESTO
Define and advise
#DAstrategy #DetermineandAct #Branding #Communication #BusinessStrategy #DesignProjectManagement #Design #NicheSectors #Milan #Shanghai #PassionAndProfessionalism #Italian #Chinese #BrandAwareness #BrandPhilosophy #ManagerialStrategicIssues #BusinessDevelopment
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MANIFESTO
Devise and Adapt
#DAstrategy #DetermineandAct #Branding #Communication #BusinessStrategy #DesignProjectManagement #Design #NicheSectors #Milan #Shanghai #PassionAndProfessionalism #Italian #Chinese #BrandAwareness #BrandPhilosophy #ManagerialStrategicIssues #BusinessDevelopment
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MANIFESTO
Determine and Act
#DAstrategy #DetermineandAct #Branding #Communication #BusinessStrategy #DesignProjectManagement #Design #NicheSectors #Milan #Shanghai #PassionAndProfessionalism #Italian #Chinese #BrandAwareness #BrandPhilosophy #ManagerialStrategicIssues #BusinessDevelopment
