Designing a superyacht

Since childhood, I've had a passion for boats, fueled by summers spent sailing on my grandfather's vessels in Tunisia. As I got older, I wanted to do a degree in nautical science in Italy, where I learned about ship engineering and operations. I still regularly sailed with my classmates every other week and also completed a short internship as a deck cadet on a passenger ship. I loved that experience, but I found myself constantly thinking about ways to improve the ship and enhance the passengers' experience. This desire to redesign and improve my surroundings led me to continue my studies in transportation design, with the goal of becoming a good yacht designer. My earlier studies focused on engineering and my university journey helped me to grow as a designer.

When I heard about this competition, I submitted my application, which included my portfolio and a brief statement explaining why I wanted to be selected. The 2024 competition brought together the next generation of yacht designers to compete for top honours in two categories: the Master’s and 2nd / 3rd year divisions. As I had graduated in July from undergraduate automotive and transport design I was in the Master’s category.

The competition begins

The competition started in September. On the very first day, the judges briefed us: each designer was given the task of creating a 50-metre motor yacht, designed for family use, while incorporating a scientific and sustainability perspective. Additionally, our project needed to highlight three unique selling points that set it apart from the other entries.

The requested output was a single handdrawn/illustrated presentation sheet. We immediately began sketching as we had just 15 hours to complete the task and create the presentation. Before that, I had developed a plan to ensure the best results by thoroughly understanding the brief and concentrating on key elements. I then started doodling and brainstorming ideas for my project’s selling points, considering how I would present it to the judges and how it could stand out from existing options. The brief focused on the near future, allowing us to be creative while ensuring feasibility. Once I started sketching, I kept the building phase in mind, aiming for a clean and simple exterior design to minimise material waste and promote sustainability during construction.
 
Following some initial sketches, I developed an exterior design that I was happy with. During the briefing, I had an idea that the yacht should accommodate researchers on board for their work.
I imagined integrating a research centre to give a distinctive touch to the exterior silhouette. This design promotes versatility and innovation, skillfully merging functionality with sophistication. The research centre has cutting-edge technology, equipping researchers with the tools they need. When not used for scientific purposes, the area can transform into a luxurious lounge, providing breathtaking ocean views.

To ensure the yacht's sustainability during operation, the concept includes using ONYX glass for all exterior glass surfaces to harness sunlight, allowing the vessel to run on both diesel and solar energy. This project showcases the significance of adaptability in design, addressing the needs of researchers while also catering to the comfort of leisure travellers.

On the second day, I refined my exterior sketches and created interior sketches to highlight the three key selling points:

• The Hologram Room. This cutting-edge space streamlines research for scientists by projecting all data detected by the ecosound systems, removing the necessity for potentially dangerous underwater submersible trips. Researchers can easily study and analyse information in this immersive setting. Once the yacht reaches the end of its operational life, this area will be transformed into an interactive museum showcasing past research efforts.
• The research centre is designed to be expandable, providing additional space for the appropriate technology to capture all necessary information and images, with the expanding sections being transparent.
• There is still so much to uncover beneath the sea and in the cosmos. That's why I've envisioned an observatory on the top deck, dedicated to conducting research on constellations and other astronomical occurrences.

My innovations

One of the biggest innovations that I came up with is to create a yacht that embodies a holistic sustainable lifecycle, from its construction to its ongoing operation and eventual refitting.

This concept envisions a yacht that never truly ‘dies’, unlike typical vessels that are often recycled. In reality, only about 10% of a boat is recycled, while the rest ends up as waste. My idea is to keep generating revenue long after its charter use. Once its charter days are over, it will be repurposed as a marine and astronomical museum and cafeteria in the port, showcasing the research conducted by previous explorers and contributing to ocean ecosystem preservation. The yacht will be refitted by removing guest accommodation for reuse or resale, and engines will be taken out to allow for reuse instead of letting them ‘die’.

In partnership with the Water Revolution Foundation, it will specifically assist in locating Important Marine Mammal Areas to aid in their preservation.

A winning design

After two intense days, the moment had finally arrived for me to present my project. Instead of feeling nervous, I was filled with a wave of excitement and joy as I shared my design. I aimed to narrate it like a story to share my enjoyment and make my ideas and perspectives more accessible. When the winner of the Master Category was revealed, the experience felt surreal, and I was immensely proud of my achievement!

This competition has helped me learn how to maintain focus under pressure and embrace feedback from all sources. At the international boat show, visitors generously shared their insights with us, helping me appreciate the importance of constructive criticism. I also improved my presentation skills in front of judges and unfamiliar individuals.

Right now, my goal is to get an internship with Sunseeker and then to become a professional and well-known yacht designer. I would love to make a big difference in the yacht industry one day.