Who are the superyacht designers of the future?

q, that’s attributed to the most brilliant super yacht project proposed by a young amateur.

The international jury hasn’t included any italian participant in the call of the finalists, even tho Italy has had a central role in this edition, probably also conditioning the creative mood of the competitors. Two were indeed the precise indications that the jury had supplied to the young newcomers: to create an achievable project for an accurate figure, however imaginary, customer type: an Italian stylist who’s decided to sell his large house for his holidays in Portofino and invest the proceeds into the construction of a 45 meter motor yacht.

We don’t know how the young designers have interpreted these informations, but by the results it seems that four things have been much clear to everyone: the imaginary client was a creative person, used to luxury, a sea lover but also a lover of comfort.

And here’s what came out from the pencil of the six designers judged as the best to compete for the final prize.

A boat inspired by fabrics, is the one designed by Baoqi Xiao. Apparently, the young designer wanted to wink to the future of the shipowner, who’s a connoisseur of fashion. But where is the reference of the tissue found? According to Xiao, in the zigzag lines which are ” an iconic design language in the fashion sector”. Clear right?

Xiao Baoqi is currently studying auto-design and yacht-design at the Art Center College of Design of Pasadena, in California.

The one proped by Lujac Desautel instead is a “terraced” boat, with a sort of equivalence between external and internal spaces. “Portofino is known for its manors that overlook onto the Mediterranean Sea –  Desautel explained – and so much external space mounted among the hills. I think that this’s in tune with the shipowner”.

Lujac Desautel has studied in The Architecture School at the College of Arts of California, in San Francisco.

The project of Leah Gowoon Parco draws still inspiration to fashion, or better ” from the clothing lines of the big signatures present on the catwalk”. Also in this occasion the designer wanted to catch on the potential client trying to find a point of contact with his stylist profession.

Leah Gowoon Parco has studied transport design at the Art Center College of Designe in Pasadena, in Californa.

Ben Hills instead, has thought to aim directly on a clear reference to the spaces that usually sorround the imaginary customer. Therefore is a boat where the decks are expected to be real and proper catwalks, platforms accessible as spaces for the exhibition and performance, dance floors.

Ben hills gratuated at Conventry University in auto-design and transport design.

Marlene Ratajska, only woman attendant among the six finalists, seems also to be the only contender to not have attended any attention to the stylist profession or to the wordly habits of the client. She’s bet all on the contact with the sea, drawing a “see-through” boat wealthy of windows. ” The yacht – the designer explained- combines a unique design with the functionality and comfort of the cruise.”

Marlene Ratajska is following a master at the Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning of the University of Technologies of Danzica.

Dave Rowles has not just only made reference to the fashion world, but he’s done it in a very specific way instead: ” The exterior design – he said – is representative of the fashion sector of Milan: bold, trendy and contemporary”. Plenty of open space, including a cinema room, sauna and swimming pool for a boat that recalls definitely the worldliness of a Milan that probably has past away by this time.  

Rowles Dave has obtained a graduation in auto-design at the University of Coventry in England.

The winner, that will be announced the next 15th of April, will receive a 5 thousand euro check and a international limelight useful for his own future.