Work: Wave

Description

In an interview, designer Marc Sadler recalled: “In 2002, Lino Dainese and I had the idea to create a back protector that would safeguard a rider’s spine during motorcycle races while also reducing fatigue: in a word, the Wave. Unfortunately, no one wanted to test it on the track at first. And as you know, if a professional rider won’t wear a piece of gear, no one wants to buy it! One day, after a lot of persuasion, the reigning world champion Kenny Roberts finally decided to try it out. Regrettably, during that very test ride, Roberts was involved in a terrible crash. But thanks to our back protector, his life was saved. Since then, many people have written to thank me for saving their lives.”

Dainese is renowned for producing high-tech protective clothing for motorcyclists, essentially offering riders a “second skin” engineered from plastic armor plates, synthetic leathers, and elastic fabrics. The Wave itself is an exoskeleton back protector that resembles a turtle’s carapace, designed specifically to shield the spine during a fall.

Manufactured in various sizes since 2002, the Wave is the ultimate example of a product you buy hoping you will never actually need. It is both anatomical and aerodynamic, drawing its name from its distinct, undulating surface. The gaps between these “waves” make the armor highly flexible, ensuring that the impact energy from a crash is safely distributed across the structure.

The next evolution of this concept arrived with the Pro Armor project—a product line inspired by the natural fractal geometry of beehive hexagons, which went on to win the prestigious Compasso d’Oro award in 2017.

Wave – duration 0:32
Sonic evocation of the object created by Paolo Ferrario

Additional info: Wave on the Dainese website