On 11 December, Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche celebrates his 75th birthday. F.A. Porsche was the creator of such legendary cars as the 904 Carrera GTS and Porsche 911. Having stepped down from the management of Porsche KG in 1972, he became an independent product designer and founded the ‘Porsche Design’ label.

As the eldest son of Dorothea and Ferry Porsche, his childhood often saw him in the design offices and workshops of his grandfather Ferdinand Porsche. In 1943, the family, together with the Porsche company, relocated to Austria, but he returned to Stuttgart in 1950 and soon registered at the College of Design in Ulm. In 1958, F.A. Porsche joined the design department of what was at that time Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche KG.

In 1963, F.A. Porsche took the world by storm with the Porsche 901 – better known as the 911. He was also deeply involved in the design of the racing cars of the 1960s, with the Formula One Type 804 racer and 904 Carrera GTS among his most famous creations.

With the conversion of Porsche KG into a share company in 1971/72, F.A. Porsche – along with the other family members – stepped aside from the operational business but, as a shareholder and member of the Supervisory Board, he oversaw the development of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG for many years.

In his Porsche Design role, Ferdinand Alexander Porsche has been responsible for a great many classic men’s accessories, including watches, spectacles, and pens. He and his team have also created a wide range of industrial products, domestic appliances and consumer goods, using the trademark Design by F.A. Porsche. In recent years, Porsche Design has become one of the world’s leading luxury brands.

Text: Charis Whitcombe
Photos: Porsche