Ph. Alessandro Lercara
IN A NUTSHELL:
- IED Torino
- Transportation Design - 2010
- Senior Exterior designer in Maserati (Stellantis)
YOU NOW:
I’m currently working as Senior Exterior designer in Maserati (Stellantis), based in our Turin design center. My past works include working on production cars (Levante, Ghibli GranLusso and GranSport) as well as concept cars (Alfieri Concept).
ITALIAN CREATIVITY:
The fact that IED stands for Italian creativity probably is one of the reasons I’m still living in Italy today. By studying at IED I really learnt what the design process of car design was, and still is, the Italian way. The strong link between Italy and design history made me realize how fortunate I was to study what I loved in this particular city, Torino.
A sketch for Maserati Alfieri Concept (2014)
IED LOCATIONS:
When you think of car design, Turin is the city you want to be in. On top of being the uncontested European Motorcity, it was for me a chance to learn and embrace a new culture at the same time. During my studies in Turin I also met some people that definitely played a strong role in my career choices and path.
Alfieri Concept car celebrated the brand's centenary at Geneva Motor Show
CHALLENGES OF OUR TIMES:
At first like everybody, during the period of adaptation, it was not easy to mix the working habits with the family space, but it eventually became a new way of working that I particularly enjoy now after a year or so of smart working; but in my line of work I still have to go and work on prototypes, style models etc. So, I still need to go and work in a more analog way, which is still always the best way to evaluate proportions and design proposals.
SUSTAINABILITY:
Sustainability is very important for every company out there in every field. Nowadays respect of the environment became a number one priority, especially for car companies. For car designers, it means making sure we reach the targets or aero, CO2 emissions and making sure we kept a strong design being as efficient as possible.
ADVICE:
“Every child is an artist, the problem is staying an artist when you grow up”.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST:
One of the most important aspects of my experience at IED was the opportunity to learn from actual professional designers' workings in the places that made me want to become one (Pininfarina, Alfa Romeo, et cetera). For me every lesson was a chance to show and present my work to potential future bosses or colleagues. My thesis project was in made in collaboration with McLaren.