“The Most Beautiful Design” for DUCATI: An Interview with Andrea Ferrazzi, Head of the Design Department at Ducati Headquarters.

Always impressed by Ducati hospitality

I attended the presentation of the NEW V2 engine held at Ducati headquarters at the end of October 2024. I have already introduced the scene in another article. During the presentation, Mr. Eduardo, who is in charge of marketing, asked me, “Ogawa-san, your flight is tomorrow, isn't it? What are your plans for the rest of the evening?” 

When I told him there was nothing special, he said, "Andrea Ferrazzi says you're going to do an interview." He said. Andrea is the head of the design department. By all means! I answered, "Yes!" and was thinking of questions to ask him after the engine presentation, when Mr. Eduardo said, "Mr. Ogawa, Paolo Ciabatti says you can come to Ducati Corse. Mr. Eduardo said.

Paolo is a key person at Ducati Corse, in charge of MotoGP until 2023 and Ducati motocrossers from 2024. It would be a dream come true for me to see the Desmo 450MX up close and, more importantly, to sneak into Ducati Corse. Of course, I immediately said, "I'd love to go! I said immediately.

We'll start selling 450 motocrossers in 2025, and in 2025 we'll have both 250s and 450s in the Italian Championship, and we'll start selling 250s in 2026," Paolo says, slurring a few words in front of his Desmo 450MX. I ask him, "Has that been officially announced?" I asked him. "No, but I've already told everyone, so you can write about it," Paolo said with a smile.

Desmo 450MX
Ducati's motocrosser in the Italian championship. Naturally photography is not allowed inside the Ducati Corse, so this photo was taken at the 2024 WDW. The frame has few welded parts and is said to be very lightweight.

Creating an organization that creates a "symbiosis of function and design

Surprised that Mr. Paolo said he could write about the information before the official announcement, he replied, "I used to be an editor, so I know what Mr. Ogawa is looking for. He came all the way from Japan to see and hear all kinds of things. Next up is an interview with Andrea Ferrazzi!" said Eduardo.

It is my impression that Ducati is the most generous of all manufacturers in terms of support at international test-ride events and during interviews. Not only do they make you a fan of the brand, but they also make you feel as if you are a member of their family. It is truly hospitality, and even though I don't understand Italian, they are as open and generous as possible.

This visit to Italy was even more blissful than usual. Filled with a pleasant feeling and a little bit of tension, Andrea-san appeared on the stage. Andrea is the director of the Centro Stile (design center), and from 2023 he will be in charge of the department responsible for Ducati's overall product strategy, as well as marketing and product development. We had often seen him at presentations for new model launches, but this was the first time we actually met him face to face.

Andrea joined Ducati in 2000. He was a project manager at Ducati until 2005, when CEO Claudio Domenicali proposed the Design Department and he moved there. At that time, the design department was in need of a transformation of the development process, and the first thing Andrea did after his arrival was to ensure that engineers and designers worked together from day one of product development. This meant that from the start of the project, function and design worked symbiotically to develop new products with a high level of synergy. Then in 2018, Centro Stile (design center) was established to design not only vehicles, but also collaborative items with other brands, such as corporate ID, apparel, and sunglasses.

My heart was excited to be able to talk directly to the person who has been the driving force behind the recent breakthrough in Ducati design.

A commemorative photo with Andrea. When we were trying to decide where to take the photo at the headquarters in Museo, Andrea chose this location. The Monster and the 916 are still very important in Ducati's design," said Andrea.

Companies and customers are all family

What I felt during my various visits to Ducati was that the company is vibrant and everyone seems to be looking in the same direction. How did they build this organization? I asked this question frankly.

Ducati is not just a bike for transportation, but a beautiful and enjoyable bike. To create such a bike, it is impossible to work without attachment. In addition to that, working here, there is a growing sense of camaraderie, of having the same passion and looking in the same direction. It is no exaggeration to say that it creates a true sense of family. And while the customers are Ducatisti (passionate Ducati fans), the people who work here are also Ducatisti.

To foster a sense of family, we encourage our employees to participate in events such as WDW (an event Ducati holds every two years at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli). We also throw a Christmas party at the end of the year. Ducati riders also attend. In this way, we are further strengthening the family feeling.

It is also important that there is little transition of people within the company. Also, when someone quits, we try to nurture the talent within the company rather than bringing in new people from the outside. Of course some people leave our company for various reasons. But even those who leave remain Ducatisti. Once it's red, it's red forever (laughs)," says Andrea.

The word "family" comes up a lot when talking with Andrea and other Ducati people. I am reminded that to work for Ducati and to be a Ducati fan is to be a part of their family.

Ducati's role is to nurture engineers from Bologna

I have visited Ducati's headquarters several times, and each time I have wondered why there are so many students in the factory. Some manufacturers do not allow their factories to be open to the public, but Ducati always opens its factories to students and fans.

We collaborate with universities and technical high schools, and sometimes we go to schools as instructors from Centro Stile to give classes. I believe that it is Ducati's job to nurture the engineers of Bologna.

Our job is to handle something very beautiful: motorcycles. It's work, but it can sometimes seem like playing. It is such a fascinating job and I am very lucky to be able to work for Ducati. I want to share this beautiful experience with society. I want to give back to society. This is my true intention.

Ducati has released many models in the past two years. We are also building new engines. Naturally, there is the stress of working on weekends, but it doesn't change the fact that this job is beautiful," says Andrea.

Andrea himself studied aeronautical engineering and aerodynamics as a student, and wrote his university thesis on the fluid dynamics of Ferrari cars. The passion that is uniquely Italian is something that is continuously nurtured.

During this tour of the plant, we were shown the new V2 engine line. Although the number of engines produced has increased, the factory is not getting larger, and they are making a variety of engines with increased efficiency. However, various parts of the headquarters will be renovated before Ducati's 100th anniversary in 2026.

What are the six key points in Ducati's design?

I think there are a lot of people who like Ducati's design. Although Italian motorcycles give the impression of being flashy, Ducati models tend to be monochromatic (mainly red) when they first appear, and graphic models are often added to the lineup after a short period of time. It can be said that this is an expression of their confidence in their ability to thoroughly create beautiful surface designs without relying on graphics.

It is really difficult to create a design that incorporates a surface. It is extremely difficult to express Ducati-ness with only lines. The key point in the process is to subtract from the maximum. In addition, we are conscious of six keywords.

The first is authentic (simple, genuine).
Second, it must have an essence (essence, trimming away the waste).
Third, it is instantly recognizable as a Ducati.
Fourth, it must be sporty.
Fifth, it must be sensual.
Sixth, it must be compact.

We don't often use graphics because they detract from the essence of the product. Of course, we use graphics for commemorative models and special editions, but it is important to have a well-developed base," says Andrea.

There were various particulars in these six, all connected to function, all had to make sense, compact and small were different, and the more I heard, the more I thought, "Sure.

Incidentally, when asked if they are implementing AI in their designs, they replied "not yet". They are experimenting with it, and it has some interesting possibilities. However, even if AI is used, there are many aspects of design that are left to human sensibilities and cannot be left to AI just yet.

The new Panigale V4S was also the first model to be presented in a single Italian red color. While supersports models from other manufacturers often use multiple colors or graphics, Ducati first creates a surface design. It seems graceful, but Ducati says that it is still very difficult to express with surfaces and lines.

The NEW Panigale V2 is 17 kg lighter than the previous model. By the way, when they develop any new model, they always have to make it lighter than the previous model. We will use the V2 engine to make bikes in various segments lighter in the future. We are working to reduce the weight of not only the engine but also each component. If you look at the parts individually, they are 0.It may be 5 grams, but in total it is lighter," says Andrea.

Panigale V4 frame and swing arm with bold meat removal

The most surprising Ducati design in recent years has been the frame and swingarm of the new Panigale V4S. The frame and swingarm do not look like a frame and swingarm that can support over 200 hp, and I thought this was the quintessence of Ducati, but I could not imagine the process that led to this point.

Incidentally, the frame has had the side portions significantly thinned out, reducing vertical rigidity by 40%. The swing arm is now double-sided instead of single-sided, and its vertical rigidity has also been reduced by 37%. The frame and swingarm are surprisingly light when held in the hand, and yet when actually driven, the incredible stability of the frame and swingarm gives a feeling of being in another dimension.

If this is being made by a person and not an AI, how is the work being done?

'That's a very good reminder. First of all, we adhere to the six pillars I mentioned earlier. From the first day of development, the designers and engineers work together, and with the Panigale, Ducati Corse is always involved, because this is a bike that competes in WSBK.

First, the engineer considers what kind of swingarm and frame are needed for the mass-produced bike. At that point, it is important that they meet performance requirements. Then the design is done at Centro Stile, and once the shape is determined, it is returned to Ducati Corse. This process is repeated. We repeat this process until we reach a specification that meets the requirements of all departments," says Andrea.

The frame of the new Panigale V4. It is boldly butchered, but it is firmly packed with functionality and has a 300 km/It supports braking from h. You can actually experience the suppleness of the car and it is very flexible.

Swingarm of the new Panigale V4. This is the first top-end superbike since the 999 to adopt a double-sided swingarm. It is surprisingly lightweight when actually held in the hand. Ducati Corse technology has been generously applied to the frame and swingarm.

What is the most beautiful design for Ducati?

Finally, we asked Andrea what is the Ducati style that he values.

Ducati is not built on design alone, but it must reflect very sophisticated technology in it. The most beautiful design of Ducati is when design and sophisticated technology are combined at their best. That is what makes Ducati Ducati.

This visit to Ducati was a rare opportunity to talk with Claudio, Andrea, and Paolo, key players whom I would not normally be allowed to even meet. I would like to thank them again for their flexible hospitality.

Ducati is a very small company with 1,200 employees. Ducati is a very small company with 1,200 employees, yet it dominates other manufacturers in MotoGP and releases a new engine every year for its production models. Ducati itself is always trying to change, always updating while preserving the essence of the company. And they are very good at expressing this. The speed and emotional sensitivity of engineering design will no doubt continue to provide us with many surprises and discoveries in the future.

It's a little early to say, but I think the 100th anniversary of the company's founding in 2026 is going to be one heck of a thing. I too am very much looking forward to it.

Ducati has introduced a variety of new engines in the past few years. From right to left: the newly announced V2, the Desmo 450MX motocrosser, the Superquadromono for the Hypermotard, and the Desmosedici Stradale V4 for the Panigale and Streetfighter.

The “V2” engine is 9.4 kg lighter than the Superquadro engine used in the Panigale V2 and other models. When we asked Andrea, “Will the V2 be Ducati's most produced engine in the future?” He replied, “It will probably be. We are looking forward to the expansion of the lineup.