Kenneth Cobonpue’s design, Cebu and his Ferrari

Cobonpue is admittedly a proud Cebuano. Living there, he said, keeps him grounded. “I love that we have found this balance between industrialization and preserving our natural beauties.

Just like Ferrari, each of Kenneth Cobonpue’s creation is an iteration of his past experiences. Every Ferrari is different in design and performance (but always superior than everything else) and this is what makes the brand exciting and exhilarating.

“A classic Ferrari, like my Dino, has a raw and timeless appeal that is special. Driving it is like piloting an old F1 car. A Ferrari from the 80s is modern but still retains that old-school feeling, requiring driving skills at high speeds,” the world-renowned industrial designer said.

The design of a Ferrari, Cobonpue reiterated, is a reflection of the aesthetic language of its time — from curvy shapes to sharp wedges and then back to a combination of both.

Cobonpue is one of the featured influencers in the Italian carmaker’s latest social media campaign, which aims to put a spotlight on real-world Ferrari owners who also embody the essence of the Ferrari Portofino model: beauty, passion, excellence, tradition and innovation and emotion.

Set against the backdrop of Southeast Asia’s iconic cities, the campaign follows three accomplished individuals from the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand as they share how Ferrari readily fuels their narrative of grit, passion and affluence. The storyline in each of the campaigns will focus on what inspires them and the values they live by. This campaign aims to highlight Ferrari’s bespoke offerings and experiences that allow the Ferrari Portofino to take center stage.

Backed by an established heritage, the Ferrari Portofino is a powerful vehicle that features timeless qualities — engineering excellence and enduring aesthetic sensibilities — that are coupled with advances in technology and modern functionalities of the time.

“My designs are inspired by nature and I am fond of bringing the feel of the natural environment in. I believe that design is a living process, forever transforming in response to the changing world,” Cobonpue imparted.

FERRARI Portofino’s sophisticated design.

LIKE his works, the Ferrari’s intricate design is awe-inspiring.

With designs that have appeared in full-length films such as Ocean’s 13 and CSI Miami, organic forms derived from plants and animals and open weaves that allow light and air to pass through have become the hallmark of his design aesthetics.

Cobonpue was basically born into the furniture industry, with a mother who had a furniture-making workshop in their backyard. He grew up watching craftsmen create amazing pieces of work, which fascinated his young mind then.

“I would make my own toys and show them to my mom, which really made her happy. That’s when I knew I wanted to do something that would make people happy with objects that I would create that could be part of their lives,” he said.

Cobonpue is admittedly a proud Cebuano. Living there, he said, keeps him grounded. “I love that we have found this balance between industrialization and preserving our natural beauties.

Seeing trees among buildings means we’re still on the right track. I hope this doesn’t go away.”

One thing in common between the Ferrari and his designs is the attention to detail that is required to make their respective visions come to life — and how everything culminates to elegant masterpieces.

This proud Cebuano was able to drive the Portofino for two days with his son in Dubai and he was impressed with the award-winning engine that is incredibly fast but docile.

In an Instagram post (@kennethcobonpue), the designer gamely posed with the Ferrari Portofino. In the caption, he said he “looks forward to days like these when I get to spend some time with my son and drive through the desert.”

“It makes for a great first Ferrari and is great as an all-around car weaving through traffic in Manila or as a getaway car on weekends,” he said.

Cobonpue today has his hands full with projects all over the world. Locally, he is doing the official Philippine Pavilion of the Department of Tourism in London, a green walking park in Naga, Cebu and an interactive installation where people can lounge and hang out in Clark during the upcoming Southeast Asian Games this November.

He said: “I create to excite. Meaningful design evokes emotion, and my aim is to enrich people’s lives and transport them to a world of fantasy and imagination.”