Hey everyone,
I’m back with another interview and this time, I caught up with Stefano Scaglione (StefanoS), who recently stepped into the role of Global Community Lead.
Stefano’s been at Nothing for just under 5 years, starting out in marketing and product marketing, before moving into brand and special projects, and now leading the community globally. He’s seen the company grow from multiple angles, which makes this shift into community even more interesting.
Louis: Stefano, great to catch up. You’ve been around since the early days, but not everyone will know your journey or what you’re focused on now, so let’s start simple, one word to describe your role at Nothing?
Louis: And important follow-up… coffee or tea?
Stefano: Coffee, black, brewed Aeropress style.
Louis: Nice, I like that answer very much! Ok, let’s rewind a bit. When did you first join Nothing, and what was it about those early days that made you want to be part of it?
Stefano: I joined Nothing in November 2021. What really drew me in was the mix of design, tech, Android, and Teenage Engineering, it just felt like the perfect combination.
At the time, the only mainstream tech brand really focusing on design was Apple, and as an Android user it felt like, finally, someone was doing something cool on this side of things.
I was already following Carl and knew about OnePlus, and I’d been a fan of Teenage Engineering for a while, I’d even bought some of their IKEA collab speakers. So when Nothing was announced, it just clicked for me.
When I joined, I helped launch Ear (1) Black, which was a great starting point.
Louis: You’ve worked across marketing, product, and brand, which isn’t the most typical path. How did you first get into that world?
Stefano: So when I joined, I was part of the marketing team, focused on helping bring product launches to life. In those kinds of roles, you end up working across everything and speaking to a lot of different teams, so you naturally get a good understanding of how the whole business works. As we grew, the team evolved and I moved into product marketing for audio, leading launches like Ear (2) and Ear (2) black. At that stage, we were even splitting launches by colour, so it was very detailed.
After that, there was a need to build more brand-led work. We were doing strong product launches, but we also wanted to have more fun and tap into the creative talent we had internally.
That’s when the brand and special projects side came in. We worked on things like the apparel project with Teenage Engineering, the Nothing Beer (5.1%), London Design Festival activations, and launches in places like Dover Street Market and Goodhood. It was more about culture and experience, not just tech products.
Louis: You’ve been here nearly 5 years now, across a few different roles. How would you describe that journey looking back?
Stefano: Yeah, it’s been about four and a half years now, so almost five.
Looking back, it feels like a full circle moment. I joined as a fan, then helped shape how we shared products with the world, and now in my current role I’m focused on giving back to the community. I get to define strategy and work directly with the people who were like me five years ago, which is something I didn’t expect, but it’s really rewarding.
Louis: And across those roles, what do you feel each one taught you, or how they’ve shaped the way you think today?
Stefano: One big thing I’ve learned is just how complex everything is behind the scenes.
From the outside, things can look simple, like doing a collaboration or launching a new version of a product. But when you get into it, even something like changing the colour of an earbud can require completely new tooling because tiny material differences affect the manufacturing process. So there are a lot of moving parts, and that’s why things don’t always move as quickly as people might expect.
Also, especially in the early days, you learn that plans change constantly. You can prepare as much as you want, but things move fast and you have to adapt. At the same time, you’re always very close to the action. You could suggest a copy tweak and see it go live within minutes. That closeness is something that’s quite unique.
Louis: Was there a particular moment or phase where things really shifted for you?
Stefano: The most memorable moment has to be the Phone (1) launch. It was our first phone, and it felt like we were doing something genuinely different. There was a real sense that we were trying to change things.
It was also just after COVID, so doing in-person launches again felt special. At that point, most brands had moved to fully pre-recorded events, so it was a big moment for us.
Every launch after that has been exciting, but nothing quite compares to that first one.
Louis: More recently, you’ve moved into the Global Community Lead role. What was it about that shift that felt right?
Stefano: A lot of the work I was doing in brand was ultimately for the people who engage with Nothing, so the shift into community felt natural.
I also think my background helps because I understand how things get made internally, so I can help the team move faster and be more proactive with what we do. Also, as I’m a Community Investor, I feel even more connected to it. I can push for things I genuinely believe in and care about.
Louis: When you think about community in the context of Nothing, what does that actually mean to you?
Stefano: For me, it’s about doing things we genuinely think are cool, and attracting people who feel the same way. Even if someone never buys a product, if they connect with what we’re doing in design, music, or culture, and want to be part of it, that’s a win.
I always think about it from my own perspective, if I didn’t work here, would I still want to engage with this brand? Would I go to the events or buy into what they’re doing? That’s the benchmark.
Louis: If you had to define it, what does a great community actually look like?
Stefano: Authenticity is key.
We don’t want to take people for granted. If we’re going to do something, we should do it properly and make sure it’s genuinely interesting. Again, I always come back to what I personally would enjoy. The best communities are built around brands that are doing things because they care, not just because they feel like they have to.
Louis: And on the flip side, what’s something about building a global community that people probably don’t see or expect?
Stefano: One thing people might not realise is how many community members exist outside of the obvious places. Not everyone is on Discord or the forum, but that doesn’t mean they’re not part of the community.
For example, when we run Community Edition projects, a lot of the participants are professional designers who might not be active in our core spaces. So a big part of what we’re trying to do is find ways to engage those “silent” parts of the community as well.
Louis: Bringing it back to Nothing specifically, what’s something this community does really well?
Stefano: They’re very vocal, which can be both good and challenging. There’s also a strong co-creation element. You see people building apps, widgets, and tools that even show up in your feed without you actively looking for them. That’s really powerful.
Louis: And looking ahead, what would you love to see more of from people here?
Stefano: I’d love to see more activity beyond just tech. We already do a lot there, but there’s so much potential in areas like fashion, design, and culture, things that still connect back to tech but expand beyond it.
Louis: Looking forward, what excites you most about building the community, and where do you see it going over the next couple of years?
Stefano: Now that we’ve grown as a company, we have more resources and reach. We can engage with a much broader audience and do more ambitious activations. Before, we were more limited, but now there’s a real opportunity to scale what we’re doing.
Louis: Let’s switch it up slightly, what’s something you’re currently obsessed with outside of work?
Stefano: Right now, I’m really into hiking. I’ve been travelling quite a bit, Switzerland, Lake District and Snowdon, with the Faroe Islands coming up in July, which I’m really looking forward to.
Louis: And is there a brand, creator, or community you think is doing things really well right now?
Stefano: I know technically it’s a competitor of ours, but I think Google’s Pixel community is interesting. They’re very clear on what you get from being part of it, and they’re good at setting expectations with things like a content calendar. They also ask thoughtful questions when you sign up, which makes it feel more personal and intentional.
Louis: Final couple, what’s your favourite Nothing product so far, and why?
Stefano: For phones, probably Phone (1), I like the flat back. For audio, the Ear range stands out, especially because it was our first product and has kept that original DNA. And an honourable mention for Ear (stick), the case has really grown on me over time.
Louis: Looking back across your journey at Nothing so far, what are you most proud of?
Stefano: One of my proudest moments was working on the Ear (2) launch video where Carl dressed up as MKBHD, MrWhoseTheBoss and others. It was a launch that I owned, as well that it was one of those ideas where we just pushed it and let the team go for it, and it turned into something really fun and different.
Louis: I think the whole Community enjoyed that launch! It was funny, fresh and different to see a CEO participate like that. To wrap things up, anything you want to say directly to the Nothing community who’ve been part of that journey with you?
Stefano: Thanks for sticking around. That’s the main thing.
I hope you enjoyed getting to know Stefano a bit more, and understanding what goes on behind the scenes. If you’ve got questions you’d want me to ask in future interviews, or people you’d like to hear from, drop them below.
