“Perfect is relative, not absolute” and this so aptly applies to motorcycles. Where one design would leave a few mouths wide open in incredulity, there are a select few who think beyond the possibilities on the man-made concept called “perfection”.
And we happened to come across one called Ulfert Janssen. A Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Design from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, USA, Ulfert has been born and brought up in Germany. Founder and owner of GANNET Design, a design and strategic consulting company based in Switzerland, Ulfert specializes in transportation design development, as well as product design, brand equity and communication consulting with clients in USA and various countries in Europe. He also develops custom motorcycle designs for discerning clients.
Prior to establishing GANNET, Ulfert Janssen was a car designer at Renault. During his 10-year tenure, he was one of the key members at the Renault’s design studio in Barcelona and was involved in all major advance design, concept models and pre-production projects. He has been also sent to Renault’s overseas affiliates such as Renault/ Samsung Motors in Korea and Nissan Motor CO., LTD. in Japan, as an expatriate. He conducted special projects and developed production cars, including the Infiniti FX. He was also responsible for trend scouting in Shanghai, Tokyo and Seoul where he made multiple trips as a photographer.
Always trying to push the design envelope further into the orbit, Ulfert’s recent venture on the drawing boards involved the idea to develop a new form language of fluidity and to elaborate new surface development, normally more seen in fashion and architecture. And his object of endeavour has been the lustfully exotic Ducati 1199 Superleggera.
Based on an existing Ducati Superleggera chassis that would also fit on a regular Panigale 1199, Ulfert’s aim was to detach from common bike design and envision something new and create very fluid surfaces. The result is an exclusive design which reinterprets the monocoque frame approach propelling the motorcycle into the future. Ulfert has given aerodynamics a completely new meaning and that, without tinkering the super-exotic mechanicals of the 1199.
We say the Gennet Design Ducati 1199 Superleggera is pure pictorial poetry! What do you think?
Learn more about Ulfert’s projects at his website www.gannetdesign.com