A closer look at the trophies of the BOAT Artistry & Craft Awards 2026

The winners of this year's BOAT Artistry & Craft Awards (BACA), presented in association with Parkway England, were honoured with bespoke, handmade trophies created by award-winning ethical design brand  Nature Squared at the Superyacht Design Festival 2026. The presentation marked the third consecutive year of collaboration between BOAT and the Swiss-based studio.

Launched in 2023, the BOAT Artistry & Craft Awards are now firmly established in their third year, continuing their mission to spotlight the often-unsung artisans, designers and specialist teams whose skill and dedication shape the finest details of superyacht interiors.

Spanning three categories – Excellence in Craftsmanship, Outstanding Collaborative Creation and Emerging Artisan of the Year – each award winner received a unique trophy handcrafted by Nature Squared. This year’s designs draw inspiration from the form of a vortex, a powerful natural phenomenon echoed in both land and sea. The resulting trophies are sculptural and dynamic, symbolising the convergence of craft, nature and sailing in a single, striking object.

The materials selected for the trophies reflect Nature Squared’s commitment to sustainability and storytelling. Pearl shell, brown lip and rainbow oyster are combined with copper to create richly textured surfaces, showcasing a spectrum of colour – from the soft pinks, bronzes and apricot tones of brown lip to the deeper, inky hues of rainbow oyster and the luminous white iridescence of pearl shell.

These shells are reclaimed by-products of fishing and pearl farming that would otherwise go to waste. By giving them renewed value, Nature Squared helps to support the livelihoods of pearl farmers and fishing communities. An additional Judges’ Commendation award was also presented, distinguished by a pyramid-shaped design.

Co-founder of Nature Squared Lay Koon Tan once again joined the judging panel for this year's awards.

Nature Squared is a Swiss-based ethical design company specialising in the transformation of organic waste into high-end decorative surfaces. For more than 25 years, the studio has combined traditional craftsmanship with innovation, elevating discarded natural materials – including eggshells, seashells, leaves, feathers, fruit pits and fish skins – into refined design applications.

Working closely with architects and interior designers, Nature Squared has delivered bespoke solutions for some of the world’s most demanding environments, from superyachts and private residences to luxury hotels and boutiques. Each piece is handcrafted by a team of 300 artisans in the company’s Philippine workshops, drawing on three core techniques: inlay, weave and cast surfaces. The brand also collaborates with leading names on select product partnerships.