If it's got an engine, I'm a fan

By Andy on 1 Mar 07

Categories: design, engines, petrol, bikes

For this inaugural "AndyBlogg" I thought I'd kick off with a piece of design that I really love.

Now hold on for a second, this isn't particularly an easy task to do - to choose one piece of design that really speaks to me. Firstly, think of the plethora of types of design there are - graphic, product, architecture, web etc - the mind boggles!

It would be relatively easy for me to just pick some obscure and pretentious piece of design from decades ago, but that's not really me. It is for this reason that I started with one thing that I've always loved, and sadly never got to own.

The object in question inspires passion and has a following of millions. It a piece of design that does exactly what good design should do, it evokes feeling... to me this feeling is pure, real excitement.

It is housed (with a great deal of equal pride) in both art galleries and garages across the world.

For me, one of the best designs ever produced is the Ducati 996.

Ducati 996

I could go on to explain why - but instead just take a look at the bike. You'll either get it immediately or you wont!

Comments

Billybobs
Posts: 2

Bikes
Reply #2 on : Fri September 21, 2007, 16:56:21

You are right.

It evokes any amount of emotion, until you place person on it. It then looks ridiculously small, uncomfortable and ungainly.

It also shows how design can mislead so very badly. It makes you think: "I want a go on that!" Having had a go on it, I wouldn't want another.

It was like riding a tractor and I was terribly aware that not only did I look ridiculous perched on something so dwarfish, it was way slower on the real road than just about any other bike in the same category.

Still.... Hang it on the wall.

Simon Cookson
Posts: 2

Terrible use of animal farm quote
Reply #1 on : Fri March 02, 2007, 16:38:40

Four wheels good, two wheels bad! I told you it was a terrible quote. I'm sorry two wheels just scare me to death. But to admit that this bike has a stunning look and design. Ducati would make quite a good case study into how brands become sexy. The company has managed to turn around the way its brand is perceived by the market in the last decade or so, I guess that all starts with the design.