Bikers by Design

Motorcycle fanatics and transport design aficionados will be revving their engines and putting their pedal to the metal, with news that leading German motorcycle designer, Professor Peter Naumann, will be heading down to New Zealand to speak to designers and motorbike enthusiasts on March 9.

Professor Naumann, who runs his own design consultancy in Munich and is Dean of Industrial Design at Munich University of Applied Sciences, is one of Europe’s leading transport designers, having designed vehicles and concepts for global motoring giants including Audi, BMW, Honda, Kymco, MZ, Nissan and Yamaha, since he began his career in 1991.

He has won numerous high profile design awards for his motorcycle, transportation and industrial design projects, including one of the world’s top design accolades, a red dot award, which he received for the YAT, or Young Activity Trailer - a luxury trailer / mobile home that can be used to transport up to two motorcycles and sports a mini kitchen, bathroom and sleeping area.

In his 19 year career, Naumann has created concepts and designs for vehicles including the BMW C1 Scooter, Honda X11 and Yamaha Majesty.

His first original motorcycle design was the Kymco Venox 250, a medium sized cruiser with a larger than life engine that is sold by the Taiwanese manufacturer Kymco in more than 74 countries.
As the lead designer at German motorcycle manufacturer, MZ, from 1999-2007, Naumann was responsible for designing all of the company’s new models, which included the MZ 125 SM, MZ 125 SX, MZ 1000S, MZ 1000SF and MZ 1000 ST.

He has also worked with leading German brand Touratech, designing the Touratech Revamp –a complete new design for the BMW GS – and the Touratech Deserto 3.
While he predominantly designs vehicles and accessories for leading European manufacturers, Naumann has also worked with a number of Chinese companies including Jinan Qingji, for whom he designed the Leopard.
Naumann is currently working on a top secret project that he describes as “the most exciting motorcycle project yet.”

He has been working on the project since 2008, and while he won’t give away details, he says it involves the revival of a famous German brand, and that all will be revealed in June of this year.
Professor Naumann is being hosted in New Zealand by Massey University and the Designers Institute of New Zealand.

Naumann will speak about his bike design work and will provide insights into the European motorcycle industry at a special design talk – Bikers by Designs – which will be held at 6pm on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at the Pioneers Women's Hall, Freyberg Place in Central Auckland.

The talk, which is part of the Designers Institute of New Zealand’s regular Designers Speak series, is a joint initiative by the Designers Institute and Massey University.

Tickets to Bikers by Design cost $20 or $10 for members of the Designers Institute of New Zealand.

Space is strictly limited. To book tickets, call (09) 529 1713 or email designer@dinz.org.nz.

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