Ferdinand Alexander Porsche (left, photo courtesy AP Photo/Porsche AG) died Thursday in Austria at age 76. Porsche designed the original version of the manufacturer's iconic 911 sports car.
The grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, the younger Porsche designed the first 911 in 1962 – 2012 marks 50 years of evolution for the car, with the newest version, coded the 991, launched in September 2011. He continued developing racecars for the manufacturer for 10 years until 1972, until Porsche was confirmed into a joint stock company.
Once he left the automaker, the younger Porsche founded the Porsche Design Studio, working on creating watches, eyeglasses, writing utensils, among other things, all with clear lines.
In a statement, Porsche AG CEO Matthias Mueller praised his design work and dedication to the manufacturer's success.
“As creator of the Porsche 911, he established a design culture that molds our sports cars still today,” Mueller said. “His philosophy of good design is for us a legacy that we will also honor in the future.”
The statement also noted his credo, that “design must be functional and the functionality must be visually implemented without gags that need to be explained.”