In order to decide the ShowBoats Design Awards in the fairest manner, we have adopted the same transparent judging procedures that have distinguished the World Superyacht Awards and set them apart from others.
In this respect we assemble a wholly independent jury comprised of yacht owners, senior yacht crew and acclaimed designers and stylists from within as well as outside the marine industry, all with expert knowledge in their specific fields.
Our panel of esteemed judges for the ShowBoats Design Awards 2017 includes:
- Chris Bangle
- Stewart Campbell
- Captain Bob Corcoran
- Fabrizio Giugiaro
- Tim Gosling
- Dale Harrow
- Andre Hoek
- Steffen Köhl
- Ioanna Marinopoulos
- Adriana Monk
- Marilyn Mower
- Victor Muller
- Brian O'Sullivan
- Merfyn Owen
- Filippo Ricci
- Sally Storey
- Paola S. Trifiró
Please scroll down to see biographies of our judges.
Stewart Campbell, Editor of Boat International Magazine
Stewart Campbell is the editor of Boat International magazine. He previously worked at Motor Boats Monthly and Motor Boat & Yachting before joining Boat International in 2014. He brings with him a decade of experience in the boating media, in which he’s tested countless boats and been on board, and reported from, some of the biggest and best superyachts on the water. He got his first taste of boating in the choppy waters of the Solent off the south coast of the UK and has never looked back, with adventures following in Thailand, Australia and Monaco too many times to mention.
He has a Masters degree in journalism, after studying history at an undergraduate level, and cut his teeth working for a newspaper in Beijing and Shanghai before being lured back to the UK and the world of boats. He almost never gets seasick. There was one time aboard 40ft passagemaker crossing the English Channel in a November gale, but the less said about that the better. When not on a superyacht, Stewart spends most of his time on a 6 knot river cruiser on the Thames, trying to keep four children entertained or keeping slugs off his much-loved vegetable patch.
Bob Corcoran, Captain, Samar
Bob grew up on boats in the waters of the Great Lakes in Michigan. After receiving his first commercial license in 1979 at the age of 20, Bob attended Michigan State University Kellogg School to study Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management. Returning to the Luxury Yacht field in 1984 as Captain, Bob has commanded both Charter and Private yachts and has now serves aboard 77m Samar for 9 years, traveling extensively from the Fjords of Norway to the Persian Gulf.
Bob is currently involved with the project management of a new 107m motor yacht, project Zoza, a project on the cutting edge of technology and innovation. In addition, he has been involved in 2 previous new builds (being Yard Captain for Broward Marine) and several extensive refit projects as well as offering consultation services on a freelance basis, for new builds and to the development of yachting in Malta.
Bob currently holds a Master 3000 ton License, Cayman Islands Endorsement and a Chief Mate Unlimited License and is working towards a Master Unlimited License.
Andre Hoek, Hoek Design
Andre graduated in Naval Architecture in 1980 and first gained working experience in the design office of C&C yachts in Canada for a year. Engineering expertise was gathered during a six-year period as salvage and heavy lift engineer for ITC, a company specialised in the transportation of offshore drilling rigs over the oceans on submersible ships and barges.
It was during this time that Andre followed an MBA with a marketing specialisation, and the foundations of the present Hoek Design office were also laid. While Hoek Design officially opened its boards in 1986, the six years prior to this saw a great deal of design work being carried out on specialised Dutch traditional Lemsteraak yachts, especially in the optimisation of their performance.
Andre was raised in a sailing family and helming small dinghies from the age of five. This was later followed by racing in FJ’s, 470s and the well-known Dutch traditional leeboard sailing craft called ‘Skûtsjes’ and “Lemsteraken”. He became Dutch ‘Skûtsjesilen’ champion in 1986, various Dutch “Lemsteraken” champion as helmsman and tactician on several yachts, Dutch IMS 3 champion in 1994 and has successfully raced one-tonners and IMS 40s. Andre remains an enthusiastic sailor, cruising long distances with his family every year. He also gained invaluable knowhow by joining the 180 ft ketch Adele on trips to the Arctic, Antarctic and The Pacific. Andre has been part of the race crew on board super yachts such as Adele, Marie, Eleonora, Lionheart.
Professor Dale Harrow, Dean of the School of Design, Head of the Programme, Vehicle Design, Chair of the Intellegent Mobity Design Centre, Royal College of Art
Dale Harrow is Dean of the Design School and Professor of Vehicle design at the Royal College of Art, a global centre of excellence in automotive design education. He also heads the Intelligent Mobility Design Centre with current projects including the design of a new taxi for London and a major UK funded trans disciplinary project on autonomous vehicles. He is an international commentator on the car industry and design and is an award-winning designer, academic and researcher.
The design of vehicles is the most complex of the design disciplines and they have exterior design, interior design and detail design mixed with high levels of technology and manufacture. Yacht and boat design take this to a more extreme level with the complexity of bespoke construction, high specification and standards and the need to perform in a harsh and dynamic environment. This gives great and unique challenges and the need to create exciting solutions.
Steffen Köhl Director of Global Advanced Design, Mercedes Benz
Steffen Köhl studied industrial and automotive design at the Pforzheim School for Transportation Design.
He has been working since 1988 within the Mercedes-Benz passenger car design division for interior and exterior design. Amongst his many contributions were vehicles and show cars such as E-Class, CLK, SL, SLR, SLS, Bionic-Car, F800 Style SC IAA, F015 Luxury in Motion etc.
Steffen Köhl has been on a number of international management assignments within the Mercedes-Benz design division. Since 2008 he is leading the Center Advanced Exterior Design of Mercedes-Benz.
Creativity should go beyond borders and limits. This contest offers an outstanding opportunity to do so. I am looking forward to many outstanding ideas and designs. Smart in particular offers an inspiring platform for new and fresh design ideas.
I am excited to be part of this contest being the representative of Mercedes-Benz and Smart Design.”
Ioanna Marinopoulos – Designer/ Architect with a multi-talent for luxury residences and superyachts.
Following a degree in design, she embarked on a successful career in interior design and architecture – Ioanna entered the world of yachting in the 90’s, and it was not long before she booked her first client. Driven by her inquisitive personality and passion for design, she took on a personal challenge to give a yacht an aesthetic makeover. This marked the beginning of her newfound and fast paced career within superyacht design.
One of her first projects, THE DOUBLESHOT, became a finalist in the 2012 World Superyachts Awards, and also nominated her the Newcomer of the Year Award. Soon thereafter she is invited to participate as a judge for The Showboats Design Awards- now entering her 5th year.
Her portfolio showcases projects from all over the world…from New York to Paris and Mykonos. www.imarinopoulos.com
Marinopoulos’ focus for the last 20 years has been design, but most recently, Ioanna’s work has evolved into designing objects - specifically lighting. Her most notable being the Spartan glory line which features custom designs from high quality marble.
Adriana Monk, Founder & Design Director Monk Design
Adriana has been at the helm of the eponymous Monk Design since 2008 - specialising in innovative and contemporary design solutions across many different transportation disciplines: from cars/to boats/to bikes. It is this diversity of projects and interdisciplinary approach that has kept Adriana inspired with fresh ideas.
A project designer at heart, she established herself as a leading interiors designer in the automotive world for such exclusive marques as Rolls-Royce, Lincoln, Jaguar and Land Rover - before following her passion into yachts. She began with Wally Yachts and then set up her own design consultancy.
With her international background and insatiable quest for impeccable design, Adriana has built up a substantial clientele and continues to attract unique projects. Creativity, innovation and elegance are the ingredients she brings to each new project, tackling Design in Motion with verve and enthusiasm.
Marilyn Mower, Books Editor, Editor-at-Large — Boat International Media
With a career in marine journalism spanning more than 36 years, Marilyn Mower was one of the founding editors of ShowBoats International magazine and spent 14 years as that title’s executive editor. In 2002, she took a step back to become Editor-at-Large of ShowBoats International to allow her to cruise the Southeast U.S. with her late husband aboard their boats Southern Cross and Emma Peel and to operate her own media firm. She was lured back into full-time marine journalism first by Southern Boating and the Marine Business Journal in 2007 and then by Boat International Media in 2010 where she spent several years as Editorial Director—USA. She has been a member of the shortlisting committees for the World Superyacht Awards and the ShowBoats Design Awards since 2010.
A graduate of the University of South Florida with degrees in English/Journalism and Secondary Education, she first worked as a language arts teacher and a newspaper reporter and sportswriter before venturing into institutional communications, first for the City of St. Petersburg and then for seven years as Director of Publications at the University of Miami, where she also attended graduate school. Her experience with long-distance sailing and yacht racing made her a sought after contributor to the top US sailing magazines for regatta coverage and technical subjects. Competitive sailing and the hands-on knowledge required for living aboard a boat for more than 20 years developed skills that put her in good stead for becoming an expert in the field of large custom yachts.
She is co-author/editor of The Megayacht Century (1999), author/editor of American Classic: The Yachts and Ships of Jack Hargrave (2004), a contributor to The Encyclopedia of Yacht Design (2006) and Superyacht (2007), and editor of Caribbean Cuisine: A Culinary Voyage (2003). For Boat International she has edited the books The Superyachts, Megayachts: Concept, Design, Construction and Refit. She has won numerous awards from the professional association Boating Writers International and the Florida Magazine Association.
Victor Muller, Owner of classic Feadship motor yacht The Highlander, and founder of the Feadship Heritage Fleet
Brian O’Sullivan, Owner of 41m Komokwa
Merfyn Owen, Partner at Owen Clarke Design
Merfyn Owen is a graduate of University College London and a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects. He is Owen Clarke Design’s senior naval architect and until recently mainly focused on the design of racing yachts and the co-ordination of R&D programs for grand prix projects.
OCD are the most recent design office to cross the divide from the racing world to designing and providing consultancy services to the superyacht industry. They are the UK’s leading offshore race-boat designers with a portfolio that includes Ellen MacArthur’s Kingfisher and Acciona 100% Eco-Powered, their eighth and latest IMOCA Open 60. In performance terms a ground breaking yacht but also the first to enter the Vendee Globe powered entirely without fossil fuels.
From offices in the UK and NZ they provide a range of naval architecture, yacht design, engineering, and consultancy services for both new commissions and the refit of large sailing yachts. The company has been working quietly as naval architects/designers behind the scenes in the superyacht world for nearly ten years. Firstly as consultants on modifications to the record breaking schooner Mari Cha 4, then substantial design and project support work on the award winning Wally 130, Angels Share and most as consultants for Nautor Swan on their 115 series of yachts.
Sally Storey, Design Director of Lighting Design International
Sally is one of the UK’s leading lighting experts. Her extensive knowledge and experience has led to her travelling all over the world designing lighting schemes for esteemed brands, individuals and corporate clients.
Sally has written three successful books on lighting and often contributes to national and international press. As a regular speaker at leading interior design and architectural events and conferences, Sally has been instrumental in raising the profile of lighting design across the industry.
Having worked on a number of yacht projects including the award-winning Topaz (J8), Northern Star, MY and SY Twizzle, Sally has brought her residential lighting experience to create outstanding lighting schemes that make the stunning spectacular. Sally and her team are currently working on a number of commissions including a 180m superyacht.
Other recent projects include the prestigious Corinthia Hotel and ESPA Life London, the multi-award winning Fera at Claridge’s Hotel, The Connaught Hotel, Ham yard Hotel, The Savoy, Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat, Sandy Lane in Barbados, Alpina Gstaad and a number of Four Seasons hotels including Paris, Nice, Hampshire, Prague, Amman and Marrakesh.
Paola S. Trifiró, Former owner of the 50m Fitzroy sailing yacht Zefira and awaiting delivery of 33m Vitters sailing yacht Ribelle
Born in Milan, Paola S. Trifiró graduated at Università degli Studi of Milano magna cum laude with a degree thesis on ancient Roman Law and has been Research Fellow in Civil Law for some years. Lawyer, with specialization in Family and Inheritance law, at the same time she is also a passionate bibliophile, with an impressive personal library of more than 14000 books containing a special collection (recently catalogued and available online) entirely dedicated to history of food, gastronomic culture and science, international cooking… including many incunabula and rare editions.
She is a lover of design and art, and has always been a sailor at heart. In particular she is fond of adventurous sailing to far distant seas and has cruised the oceans from the South Pacific – Fiji and Samoa, to Norway and Alaska, and not to mention Panama and California. With her husband, Salvatore, she has been involved with many sailing yacht building projects, from just 7-meters when a young student, to the impressive Zefira, a 50-meter Dubois design, receiving critical acclaim for lightness, elegance, speed and modernity. A passionate Regatta participant with Salvatore, Paola now has a 107ft carbon yacht in build at Vitters with Malcom McKeown and Remi Tessier interiors. The new boat is focusing on lightness and speed for racing, without sacrificing the space and transparency for cruising pleasure and sea life. The yacht will be delivered in Holland between the end of 2016 and the beginning of 2017.