Luigi Colani Net Worth

Capital:	€ 96 million
Age:	91
Born:	02.08.1928
Country of origin:	Germany
Source of wealth:	Designer
Last updated:	2020

Short introduction

German designer Luigi Colani is a world star in his profession. He designed a number of everyday objects, including airplanes and cars. He developed his own distinctive style, which he made “biodesign”. By doing that, he emphasizes the organic appearance of the product designed. It was very popular in Japan and China, but also throughout the world.

Early life

Luigi Colani was born Lutz Colani in Berlin in 1928. His father was Swiss, his mother Poland. From an early age, his parents had a very important influence on promoting his creativity. So they didn’t buy him toys, but allowed him to make his own toy. So he learns to solder before school and has to deal with various materials such as wood, plaster or clay.

At the end of the Second World War, Colani must function as a helper anti-aircraft. From 1946 he studied the statue and painting, which he did not finish, because Luigi Colani thought he was better than his teacher.

Therefore he actually studied aerodynamics in Paris 1949 to 1952 and then analytical philosophy, also in Paris. This was attended by involvement with aircraft manufacturers and car manufacturers. When he designed his first GT sports car for Alfa Romeo in 1957, he changed his name from Lutz to Luigi.

Career

Colani quickly gained a reputation as a very innovative design talent. In addition to design work in the field of aircraft and car construction, he also turned to other industries in the next few decades. So he built a large and successful furniture designer team at Rheda-Wiedenbrück, although of course he also contributed a lot. He is also active in the field of everyday objects.

He reached the peak of his creativity when he was running his design studio in Schloss Harkotten in Westphalia between 1972 and 1981. The so-called “factory design” became a contact point for many students from all over the world, and for engineers. During this time Luigi Colani designed products from all areas of life.

However, because he is known for not talking when dealing with customers, there are several disputes. He found representatives of the German automotive industry in particular very hostile to innovation which he eventually emigrated to China and Japan. However, his reputation among consumers in Germany and throughout Europe was perfect and the echo was very large.

From 1982 he was the head of a designer in Canon, Sony and Mazda. In Japan he is considered a “God’s design” since then. In 1995 he moved to China, where he later became a professor at another university. In 2002 he finally returned to Germany, where he settled in Karlsruhe.

Apart from this professor in Shanghai, he also worked at the University of Tokyo, Bremen and Beijing.

Career highlights

Given the many activities and areas where Luigi Colani is not only active but also stylish-formed, it is almost impossible to highlight the individual highlights in his career.

In principle, the fact that its name has become a synonym for an elegant design, curved and living far beyond the world of design can be described as its greatest success. Many of his awards, who entered dozens, were less meaningful for him than that he could help shape his environment according to his idea.

The famous work by Luigi Colani is MIS. B. Colai eggs in Lünen, Canon T90 cameras and various ceramic product series. He also designed a PC with a round edge and even the piano, Pegasus Piano.

Amazing facts

Luigi Colani married a Chinese woman from the 1990s. He also has two sons, one of them also works as a designer. From 1995 to 2002 he lived in Shanghai, then until his death in Karlsruhe. He was a consultant for Airbus for a while, which was why he bought a castle near Toulouse.

His hobby besides his work dived. Colani once said that a third of his life happened under water. After his death on September 16, 2019, he was buried in the honorary page of the main grave in Karlsruhe.