The ability – but above all the desire – to listen to the customer, the quest for elegance and
professionalism are just some of the characteristics that unite the vision of Tuxedo and Lorenzo
Berselli, founder of Studio Agon and architect of these unique aluminium pieces, the
quintessence of harmony and exclusivity.
We had a chat with Lorenzo Berselli to enter his world and delve into what it is that makes him
such a capable designer and expert in the art of achieving a vision as personal as a Tuxedo can
be.
This is what we discovered…
● What is your idea of Tuxedo? What value does a project of this kind have for you?
Tuxedo represents exclusivity and tailoring, combined in a harmonious and non-exaggerated end
product. The intention is to go beyond mere appearance, emerging silently in harmony and
elegance. All these characteristics must be distinctive and recognisable in the design. This is our
ambition, you will tell us if the goal has been achieved…
● Why aluminium?
The choice to use aluminium is not just a design choice, it represents above all the identity of the
brand, which has identified this material as its distinctive character, a peculiarity certainly deriving
from the shipbuilding tradition of the Ceccarelli family.
The use of aluminium must undoubtedly always be taken into consideration by the designer, not
only for obvious production issues, but also for the greater longevity of the boat, which therefore
demands an equally long-lasting, timeless design.
● How did the collaboration with the Ceccarellis come about?
We met in 2019. At that time I was working in Luca Dini’s studio and I collaborated on the design
of the first unit of the 13.88 model, what is now called the 44 Classica.
● What is boating for you? What links you to this sector?
Boating is a family passion, something I grew up in. My childhood is full of wonderful memories of
the sea and sailing. A few years ago, as soon as I moved to Trieste, I lived on a boat for a few
months: I think there is no more authentic way to approach life in a seaside town.
I am lucky enough to have turned a childhood passion into my profession, but the enthusiasm is
still the same.
● What do you focus your vision and work on?
My studio’s name is Agon, a word that in Greek meant competitions of an intellectual and creative
nature. Our vision is to approach each job as if it were a design challenge to create the best
product for our client, respecting input and construction constraints, without giving up on
presenting the public with a product that satisfies and represents us.
● How much innovation is still possible today?
Innovation is still possible. those who claim otherwise should not be in this business.
It is clear that to assess the innovativeness of a solution you have to weigh it up properly: a small
innovation in a design for a mass-produced boat can be more incisive and significant than the
concept of a megayacht, which certainly makes more ‘noise’. What is essential for us designers is
to be constantly up-to-date on new materials, construction and propulsion technologies or other
technical aspects that enable us to achieve innovative shapes. It is right to dare and go further in
the preliminary design phase, and then to be able to retrace our steps if necessary.
● How are you different from your colleagues? What is your special characteristic and what do yourcustomers like about you?
I believe that my strength lies in my ability to deal openly with the person in front of me, thus
being able to understand their tastes and, above all, what is the idea they have in mind. Having
done that, I try to transform that idea into a design that respects the client’s wishes and needs as
much as possible, be it an owner or a shipyard, in terms of aesthetics, budget and functionality.
