Who Designed LaFerrari?

As was mentioned above by professional designers above (which I can confirm from experience as well) often for marketing purposes, a designer will be asked to create a sketch of the final product that looks like a development sketch but in reality is just a "display sketch" of the product. It looks cool and gives the impression that the viewer is getting an inside look of the development process but in reality, the sketch you are looking at was not part of the actual development process.

What I was countering was the notion that that shape existed in one person's head (in this case a student designer who was part of a Ferrari competition) and nowhere else and Ferrari just took that supremely unique shape and made it their own. No, that's not really what happened.

That shape, or lets say that shape language, is out there. Some of the Mazda concepts have been using it. Not that shape, in that place, for that use specifically. But the flowing leaf shape language. Heck to be honest, I drew that shape for another use in a different product altogether about four years ago. I think I may have taken it from a science fiction movie production, can't remember off the top of my head.

Also, this shape can be seen in nature. In the shape of a leaf, a shell, or the patterns created by waves or the wind or sound.

We all want Ferrari designs to be completely unique, seen nowhere else, created by Ferrari first. But even Ferrari (or Pininfarina) designers are human beings and they are influenced by the outside world and the outside world will creep into the designs.

As far as I'm concerned, the shape of the LaFerrari is totally unique and special and is not derived specifically from any one thing out there. No one will mistake it for anything else. Nothing. That's pretty good for me.

-F

 

+1 & +1
you got it......

the general public oftentimes think that a designer sits down.....does a cool sketch.....and magically that's how the car turns out..
if only it were that simple
those beautifully finished sketches are sometimes done as the car is close to being finished,or is in fact done,for the PR/marketing dept. to use as "the development sketch"

the real process is not quite that simple
i'm confident Ferrari generated a multitude of sketches/renderings/themes and developed the clay model to reach the final production design.
IMHO,they did an outstanding job with LaFerrari
it looks like a Ferrari
it doesn't look like any other Hyper/Supercar
it has complex/sophisicated surfaces and it doesn't blend in with the current automotive landscape
is it perfect......no.....maybe the next one will be

 

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Question for the Pros. So if the final design is not based on a sketch, what do you use?: a computer generated 3D model, a clay model?

 

Never said the design wouldn't be based on a sketch. You have to start somewhere,and generally a sketch is usually the beginning. Once a "theme" is agreed on,then either a full digital model or a clay would be next. That's where the "fun" begins. Productionizing the design is where the theme is developed over time,with many changes taking place. The design team is constantly developing ideas and solutions for all the issues that come up with engineering,manufacturing,aero,marketing,finance,etc.,etc.Ultimately,the clay is "approved" and it's on to production. I've edited out all the nasty/ugly bits.

But that's the 35,000 ft view of the process.

 

That picture looks familiar...
http://nthimage.com/Detroit/photoshoots/Ferrari_Enzo/Enzo_47.jpg

Jeremy, any idea where it came from?
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I've been doing this for a while now, close to 20 years.

You should check out the book about the development process, "LaFerrari Dynamic Art". I think the English version is coming out soon. Also I'm sure Auto&Design will have a issue out in a few months covering the design process. As if you didn't know that already.

-F

 

i KNEW you knew your "stuff" !

i'll certainly look for the book


and,yes,i'm sure Auto & Design will do a piece on LaFerrari,the P1,and the Lambo Veneno......
should be interesting

 

sorry no, I just grabbed it off the internet search

 

thanks, that would certainly be a cool book to look through, with much more info & images than here, i'm sure!


in regards to sketches being made afterwards, for marketing, I think it would be fair to say that the intention is to somewhat evoke the sense that "this was the design idea, from creation to production" ...even though is of course not the case as JM2 has said

 

Ferrari F70 2013: Nuovo Render - CarPassion

>8^)
ER

 

It came from one person with its specific features. Show me another matching design with the same quality. You cant because it most likely doesnt exist.

 

So cool that we have 2 pro car designers (furmano and jm2) on here to ask about the creation processes! 20 years, wow! Anything in production now? Do you think LaFerrari's design is finalised? I heard front door body shut line might be changed because they need a very big gap to make it work safely. What do you think of rear visibility for driver from inside? Good suitcase area?

 

I am a product designer, not a car designer. I wish!

But I am well versed in the design process and the particulars of how a design language develops.

There is another car designer on this site who hangs around the Dino section and has probably over 25 years of experience working for various brands including Audi and VW. He has some great designs under his belt.

-F

 

thanks Erik!!

 

yes there are 2 designers here with Dinos

 

If you are referring to the 'Y' shape on the rear flank, the book I mention above shows sketches from A. Agnari that show elements of the shape in the design. And I think those sketches are actual development sketches, not "fake" marketing sketches made after the design was frozen.

Maybe those sketches were based on the student's design. Not sure.

Additionally, there is a page that shows design elements and a design language that supports that feature. Maybe they were made after the design was appropriated from the student or maybe those elements and language evolved naturally during the design process. Not sure.

-F
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No women on the design team?? Remarkable.

SV

 

not really

it's extremely difficult to find women that are interested in doing automotive exterior design as a profession

many of the women that decide to enter the auto design profession gravitate towards the interior design function or the color & trim function

why this is has always been one of those mysteries. plenty of theories,but no real data or facts

just had a woman graduate last semester that was interested in doing exteriors,and she was good at it.....she landed a job immediately!

 

Ferrari Maranello. Couldn't Image Unavailable, Please Login resist.

 

Good story about the design competition as well as other interesting tidbits here:

http://europe.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130506/ANE/130439999/the-making-of-laferrari#axzz2SYZJrDrq

 

Anymore more pictures of this design from the Ferrari "design Competition" of 2011 I believe?

Thanks to a member on a kit car forum we may have another artist feature copied in the rear spoiler this time without recognition.... as I highly doubt any monetary reward was given or if he/she is apart of the in-house design team.
Just starting a supercar company - Page 16
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good article!

 

LaFerrari Designs that Didn't Make the Cut
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