Andrea Ferraresi: Design at an Angle

Andrea, you and Mitja Borkert, Lamborghini’s chief designer, share a special bond – and not just because of the geographical proximity of your two brands. What makes this friendship so special to you?

Yes, Mitja and I have a relationship that can certainly be described as a friendship. It began more than ten years ago, when he had only just joined Lamborghini. We met and hit it off straight away – probably also because we both share a great passion for motorbikes. Even back then, Mitja was a true Ducatista – a huge fan of the brand. Since then, we’ve been in regular contact, often discussing design matters, and sometimes on a more personal level, talking about our families. He’s someone who’s very open and honest, even when it comes to criticism. For example, he recently had a strong opinion about one of our new models, and although I knew he was being critical, I really respect the fact that he shared his thoughts with me.

When you ride a motorbike with Mitja Borkert, who’s faster?

Fortunately, our rides together have so far been limited to official events and photo shoots, where racing isn’t allowed, of course. But sooner or later we’ll head out onto the racetrack. I’ve already told him that I’ll challenge him on a smaller track with a minibike. Who’ll be faster then? We’ll see!

Are there any special moments you’ve shared during this time that have particularly strengthened your bond?

Yes, there are a few. I’d include the photoshoot with Mitja and Harm Lagaaij among them. I only knew Harm very casually, so it was a situation where a friend introduced a friend to another friend. We then ended up sitting together for quite a while because of the weather, and there was an instant connection. It was fascinating to chat here as a trio of designers. We really had the time to talk about design – about our views and our experiences. The two of them don’t just love cars; they truly live and breathe their passion for motorbikes.

When did you first meet Mitja Borkert?

That must have been shortly after he started at Lamborghini – around 2013. Walter de Silva, who I suppose plays a similar mentoring role for me to the one Harm Lagaaij plays for Mitja, brought us together and also inspired us to exchange ideas between the Ducati and Lamborghini brands.

Do you only talk about design when you meet, or do you discuss personal matters as well?

Oh, it’s often about more than just design! We talk about our families and various interests. I always find it fascinating to hear about Mitja’s childhood in East Berlin. There are a lot of differences compared to my own background, and I learn a great deal from his stories.

Has your growing understanding of and perspective on sports car design changed your view of motorbike design?

Not directly, as cars and motorbikes are fundamentally different. But with special models such as the limited editions of our Diavel and Streetfighter, Mitja’s opinion naturally plays a role. He offers valuable insights that we can incorporate into our process. It’s important to incorporate the elements of the Lamborghini DNA subtly – and his expertise helps enormously with that. Otherwise, our conversations often revolve around our career paths – Mitja in strategic design management and myself, originally from the world of engineering, now as head of the design studio at Ducati. At first, it was an unusual decision to appoint an engineer as head of design, which piqued both my and his curiosity. At Ducati and Lamborghini, technology is extremely important to the design. This technology feeds into the design process to visually highlight innovative, technical solutions. Naturally, there are major differences here due to the nature of the engineering, but there are also interesting aspects and approaches from which to draw inspiration.

Has your friendship with Mitja changed your view of the Lamborghini brand?

Absolutely. I was, of course, already fascinated by Lamborghini before that. Nothing has changed in that respect, but Mitja explained his design philosophy to me in great detail, so I now have a better understanding of the decisions behind each model. Once you understand this process, you see the cars in a different light and recognise the overarching, coherent design. Every Lamborghini model has its own distinctive features, yet remains true to the brand’s core – a clear link between individuality and DNA.

Do you also draw inspiration from other fields, such as art or architecture?

Yes, in a way, although we don’t follow trends. Our design DNA dates back to the 1990s with the iconic Ducati 916 and Monster. These are the two icons on which the entire design is based. This DNA continues to influence our sports and naked bikes to this day. There are, however, subtle influences: the air vents on the side of the new Panigale V4, for example, are reminiscent of Lucio Fontana’s famous ‘slits’. Or take our Streetfighter – the front design is literally inspired by the face of the comic book character The Joker, which wasn’t intended as a marketing gimmick but was actually part of the creative process. A picture of the Joker hung in the designer’s workplace. The Multistrada also shows influences from the animal kingdom, such as the appearance of an eagle’s head.

What other areas serve as sources of inspiration here?

Nature helps, of course, as already mentioned. We also often draw inspiration from the world of warriors – from the helmet of an ancient warrior right through to a modern sportsman. We design our motorbikes to look aggressive, but more in the sense of adrenaline and energy, rather than in connection with weapons or violence. Take the Panigale or the Multistrada: if you look at the fuel tank from above, it is reminiscent of the muscular back of an athlete standing in the starting blocks.

You’re a designer with a background in engineering. How did that come about?

Even as a child, I was curious and interested in practical things – the typical little tinker. MacGyver was my hero! I tried my hand at lots of things and I’d rather not go into all of them here, not least out of a sense of parental responsibility. I probably got that from my father, a car mechanic. I often spent my afternoons in the workshop, watching him work. That’s also how I first came into contact with Ducati. My neighbour owned a yellow and black Ducati Scrambler and would spend hours polishing it after just a short ride. That passion for motorbikes and looking after them still shapes me to this day.

What role does looking after and cleaning a motorbike play?

With a motorbike – and especially with a Ducati – this is a crucial aspect of the way of life it embodies. In my case, it goes even a step further and can be traced back to Walter da Silva, who made it clear to me: if you want to understand the design of a vehicle, you should feel it blindly, wash it whilst blindfolded. In the mornings, when I’m the first one in the studio, I leave the lights off and look at the motorbikes in the dark. This helps me to perceive the proportions without being distracted by details. Then I move closer, close my eyes and feel the surfaces. That’s how you sense the design and the energy that lies within it.

This brings us straight to the physical experience of motorcycling, which differs fundamentally from driving a car due to the rider’s direct involvement.

The physical connection between rider and machine reaches its peak on a motorbike, particularly on sports bikes. I often say: you don’t sit on a motorbike, you slip into it like a glove. A Ducati motorbike is not a means of transport, but a piece of sports equipment. That’s why we produce a clay model of every new model, and as soon as that’s done, our test riders come into our studio in full gear – with suit, helmet, gloves and boots, into our studio, climb onto the model and simulate the riding movements to find out if there’s anything we need to change in terms of ergonomics. 

We’ve put an enormous amount of work into the new Panigale V4, particularly into the shape of the fuel tank and the seat. In MotoGP – for example, on Pecco Bagnaia’s bike – the actual fuel tank is largely located beneath the seat. What you see is an ergonomic element, not a fuel tank structure in the strict sense.

Do you use test riders of different heights here?

Yes, we have various types. But there is a ‘standard size’ based on our chief tester, Alessandro Valia. He defines the general ergonomics, which we then adapt for shorter and taller riders. However, the main work is carried out with him.

Which ergonomic elements are most important in a model like the Panigale?

When it comes to the ergonomics of a motorbike, we start by working with what is known as the ‘ergonomic triangle’, which consists of the handlebar grips, the seat and the footrests. This triangle naturally varies from model to model, and we are constantly adjusting it to accommodate evolving riding styles and riders’ habits. On the Panigale, for example, the height of the handlebar mounts – the so-called clip-ons – has changed over the years. If you sit on a 1994 Ducati 916, a lot of weight is placed on your wrists. Today, things are different, which improves comfort – a development that wasn’t a priority in the past.

Is the ergonomics on a Panigale more demanding compared to models such as the Scrambler or Diavel?

I’d say it’s different. With the Panigale, ergonomics directly influence performance. The ‘ergonomics triangle’ – the shape of the fuel tank, the length and width of the seat – all of these factors are crucial to performance. On models such as the Multistrada, ergonomics plays a different role; there, the focus is on comfort over long distances. Factors such as thermal protection – for example, through the design of the windscreen – are also particularly important here.

And what role does the Panigale play within the Ducati model range?

The Panigale is indispensable in our product range, and we often compare it to the Porsche 911. Our range is broadly divided into sports models and naked bikes, and the Panigale is our ‘911’. Many design features originate from the Panigale and are reflected in other models such as the SuperSport or Multistrada. All Ducati models have a visual mass that pushes forwards, a slim and agile rear end, and wherever possible, we position the motorbike’s ‘centre of gravity’ between the wheels. This gives it a compact appearance.

Despite the diversity of its model range, Ducati manages to maintain a coherent and well-organised product line. How do they achieve this?

This is very important to us and forms part of our ‘Reduce to the Max’ design philosophy. It consists of six pillars that define every Ducati. This shared DNA ensures that all models are recognisable as Ducatis.

Has Ducati changed its strategy as a result of this competitive environment, for example with regard to brand awareness?

Yes, absolutely. Our ambition is to be the most desirable company in the motorcycling sector. Our mission is to enrich people’s lives through unique motorcycling experiences by delivering motorcycles that combine sensual beauty with sophisticated technology – all wrapped up in Italian, sporty-elegant style. To achieve this, strong brand awareness is essential. We strengthen this through a consistent brand identity that extends to all touchpoints with our customers – from clothing, helmets and accessories right through to the interior design of our dealerships. In this way, we create an experience that makes ‘Ducati’ tangible at every point.

When you look to the future of Ducati – what are you most looking forward to?

All of us at Ducati feel a great sense of responsibility. The brand is in a better position today than ever before: our brand awareness is at an all-time high, we’re enjoying sporting success, and we’re strongly positioned in the market. Our challenge now is to maintain this success and perhaps even build on it further. This is particularly important as we are seeing an increase in Chinese brands on the market, similar to what happened in the 1970s with the Japanese manufacturers. The competition is adopting aggressive pricing strategies here – we, on the other hand, want to continue to set ourselves apart through innovation and excellence in design and technology. This is an exciting, but also challenging, task for the future.