Lexus Design Visionaries: LBX – Redefining Automotive Design

The results of this research are aluminium works created by the students under the guidance of Claudio Larcher (NABA Design Area Leader), Andrea Mancuso (Academy lecturer), and with the support of Sofia D’Andrea (NABA Design Area Academic Assistant). Each of the seven pieces represents a design principle or an iconic detail of the car, reinterpreted in an evocative form that dialogues with the stylistic language of the Lexus LBX, while also amplifying its cultural and conceptual references.
The project offers a fresh perspective on the relationship between automotive design and artistic storytelling, perfectly reflecting some of the brand’s founding values: Japanese design and aesthetics, Takumi craftsmanship guaranteed by Lexus master artisans, and the desire to create memorable, moving experiences—whether admiring a work of art or stepping into a car.

The pieces created by the students reflect an extraordinary variety of approaches and inspirations, all united by the ability to reinterpret the Lexus DNA through contemporary languages. Starting with “Kura”, designed by Nino Leone: a stool inspired by the essential, compact lines of the Lexus LBX. Its curved surfaces and measured volumes evoke the vehicle’s controlled speed and dynamism. The object blends elegance and solidity, offering a strong yet never intrusive presence—a perfect synthesis of minimal design and reflected light. “Shakujō”, by Eleonora Astolfi and Julia Fabbriani, draws inspiration from the traditional Buddhist staff used by travelling monks, characterised by a metal ring with several smaller rings that, when shaken, produce a distinctive sound. The students present a sculptural, futuristic version in which the movement of the rings recalls the idea of journey, exploration and protection—concepts that are also echoed in the experience on board the Lexus LBX.

Among the other works, “Ensō”, created by Anna Della Pedrina, is a sculptural lamp inspired by the LBX’s rear light: a thin horizontal LED line, a distinctive graphic feature of the car. This line is engraved into the aluminium and illuminated, creating an object that blends solidity and fluidity—a symbol of minimal yet warm and tangible luxury. “Wabi Sabi”, by Aniello Francesco Iervolino and Daniele Padovani, instead reflects on the beauty of simplicity. The work takes the form of a faceted casket, recalling flint as an archetype of ancient craftsmanship. Its essential lines evoke the “luxury of the ordinary”, telling how the LBX places authentic experience at the centre, rather than ostentation. The fifth work, “Ugoki”, designed by Nicolò Cirillo and Beatrice De Paoli, is an interactive centrepiece in which a sphere rolls over a tray with sculpted surfaces, echoing the flowing lines of the LBX. The user can move the sphere, experiencing the delicate balance between control and surprise—much like driving a car that is both responsive and harmonious.