22/01/2026
Known Legends
Some collaborations are not just about aesthetics, but about the very philosophy of design.
Stefano Pastrovich is an internationally renowned architect and naval designer, with a passion for aviation—particularly sport gliding and aerobatic flight with powered aircraft. A few years ago, he contacted me to design the livery for his Extra 330 SC, one of the most high-performance competitive aerobatic airplanes.
From the very beginning, I understood that this would be a different kind of project.
We were two designers, each with our own visual language, engaged in a creative exchange where every proposal sparked a response:
“Nice idea. What if we did it this way?”
“What do you think if these shapes adapted in another direction?”
Then Stefano surprised me with an unexpected intuition.
He told me about his interest in a particular color combination and in women’s evening dresses that leave one shoulder bare. That elegant asymmetry, that play of balance, fascinated him.
But there was a problem.
In the world of aerobatics, symmetry is sacred: it helps judges correctly read and interpret maneuvers.
Choosing asymmetry meant breaking an unwritten rule.
But Stefano was determined. He decided to put his aircraft at the service of exploring asymmetry, and I supported him in this endeavor.
He sent me a sketch from which I developed the final livery: bold yet refined, original.
An evening gown—but one that flies.
An aesthetic manifesto.
Picture credits
Alessandro Maggia Avphotos (1, 4)
Francesco Cavallin (3)
