Carlo Bonzanigo

Carlo Bonzanigo (born September 29, 1966, in Lugano, Switzerland) is a renowned Italian designer with Swiss citizenship, recognized for his work with major automotive brands such as Pininfarina and Citroën. Bonzanigo’s career has been marked by his innovative approach to design and his significant contributions to the development of numerous high-profile vehicles.

Bonzanigo graduated in Mechanical Engineering with a specialization in Aeronautics from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich) and later obtained a degree in Transportation Design from the Art Center College of Design. His professional journey began in 1995 when he joined Pininfarina as a designer, quickly rising through the ranks under the leadership of Lorenzo Ramaciotti. He became the Design Manager for several iconic concept cars, including the Pininfarina Osée (2001), the Ford Start (2002), and the Maserati GranTurismo (2003).

In 2004, Bonzanigo moved to France, where he joined the Centre de Création Citroën in Vélizy as Chief Designer under Jean Pierre Ploué. During his tenure at Citroën, he played an essential role in revamping the brand’s design language and contributing to the creation of the DS marque. Bonzanigo was responsible for the exterior and interior design of several notable production vehicles, including the Citroën C3 Picasso, C3 Aircross, C4 Aircross, and the new C1. He was also heavily involved in the design of Citroën’s concept cars, such as the DS Hypnos (2008), DS Revolte (2009), and the Tubik (2011).

In 2015, Bonzanigo became Director of the Automotive Department at Q-ID Industrial Design in Maranello, where he also worked as a consultant for Ferrari Design. He returned to Pininfarina in 2017 as Vice President of Design. During his time at Pininfarina, he oversaw the creation of several key vehicles, including the Hybrid Kinetic concept cars, the Karma GT, and the Vinfast Lux A 2.0 sedan and SUV. His team also collaborated on the design of the electric hypercar, the Battista, which was revealed at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show.

In September 2019, Bonzanigo left his position at Pininfarina for personal reasons. He later published the book “AUTOMOBILI, DESIGN ED EMOZIONI – Celebrazione del piacere estetico” in 2021, further solidifying his influence in the world of automotive design.