Meet the 26 speakers at the 2016 Superyacht Design Symposium

PLENARY SESSION SPEAKER: Superyacht Owner Panel

Nick Candy is a British real estate entrepreneur and businessman best known for co-founding global luxury interior design firm Candy & Candy and for his role in some of the most high profile real estate projects in recent times.

In 1995, Nick and his brother Christian bought their first property in with the help of a £6,000 loan from their grandmother. They renovated it in their own style and successfully sold it on 18 months later at a substantial profit.

Candy & Candy was then established in 1999 and quickly went on to become one of the world’s leading luxury interior design firms, recognised internationally for designing the most luxurious real estate in the most coveted locations, as well as designing superyachts, jets, luxury cars and a wide range of commercial environments.

The company’s most high profile project – the globally celebrated One Hyde Park residential development in Knightsbridge, London – revolutionised the residential property market worldwide, breaking industry records and setting unparalleled new standards in luxury design and living.

Nick has also diversified his interests outside of Candy & Candy by adding several new companies and investments to his portfolio in real estate, technology, media and telecommunications, healthcare and natural resources.

PLENARY SESSION SPEAKER: Form vs Function

Ilse Crawford is a designer, academic and creative director with a simple mission to put human needs and desires at the centre of all that she does. As founder of Studioilse, together with her multi-disciplinary, London-based team, she brings her philosophy to life. This means creating environments where humans feel comfortable; public spaces that make people feel at home and homes that are habitable and make sense for the people who live in them. It means designing furniture and products that support and enhance human behaviour and actions in everyday life. It means restoring the human balance in brands and businesses that have lost their way. As founder of the department of Man and Wellbeing at the Design Academy Eindhoven, her mission extends to nurturing a new generation of students to always question why and how their work improves the reality of life.

PLENARY SESSION SPEAKER: Is beauty a science or an art?

Theo Fennell went to Eton in the 1960s, and surprised his teachers by becoming the first pupil there in living memory to go to art college. He first studied at the York School of Art and then at Byam Shaw (now part of UAL), and began in portraiture. He soon realised he would starve if he continued down this path, and by pure fate was then offered a job at the great silversmiths Edward Barnard’s where he discovered an aptitude for silver and jewellery design as well as a huge respect for craftsmanship.

As well as his one offs and masterworks, Fennell also designs jewellery which is inherently wearable and of course, impeccably crafted. He has numerous famous fans including Lady Gaga, Cara Delevingne, David Beckham and Sir Elton John, of whose AIDS Foundation he is also a committee member. He has a number of accolades under his belt including winning the ‘Oscars of luxury’, the Best Luxury Craftsmanship Award at the Walpole Awards for Excellence. In 2007 he curated Show Off, an exhibition of his works at the Royal Academy, and has exhibited at the esteemed art, antiques and jewellery fair Masterpiece London, for the past 3 years. He also whole-heartedly supports the work of young jewellery and silver students – The Royal College of Art Theo Fennell Awards for Jewellery and Silver are in their 10th year this year, and he also works in conjunction with Central St Martins and Goldsmiths.

PLENARY SESSION SPEAKER: What is the new luxury?

Nicky Haslam is one of London’s best-known and best-loved interior designers, a charmed and charming agent of style and a taste-maker for the rich. His appeal is global and NH Design interiors are sprinkled around the globe from Mayfair to Moscow to Morocco. He’s a social magician who has created the décor for some of the most iconic parties of our age from the Opera Ball in Hong Kong to the Cartier Polo Gala lunch. Its no wonder HRH the Prince of Wales and Sir Evelyn and Lady Rothschild have enlisted his services for their events. Nicky is also a waspish diarist, a talented memoirist and has, latterly, managed the successful transition to cabaret artiste. He is one of the funniest social observers and was a friend of Elvis, Svetlana Stalin and Liberace.

PLENARY SESSION SPEAKER: Is beauty a science or an art?

Espen Øino is the principal of Espen Øino International, a leading firm of designers and naval architects based in Monaco, specializing in the design of large, bespoke motoryachts. With over 40 yachts in service and many more currently in build, Espen Øino International is today considered one of the leading design studios in the world. Amongst the more recent deliveries are the new Kismet, the 95 meter Lürssen  Ester III, a 66 meter Lürssen Inifinity, a 89 meter Oceanco and Ocean Victory, a 140 meter Fincantieri.

PLENARY SESSION SPEAKER: Form vs Function

Andrew Winch has been in the specialist yacht design environment for over thirty years. Having grown up sailing on the south coast of England in dinghies and cruising yachts, his love of the sea embodies all of his work. Formal training at St Martins’ School of Art, London and Kingston College of Art laid the foundations for his career. This was followed by a year sailing as a crew member across the Atlantic and in the Caribbean on a private 52 foot sailing yacht.

On his return he joined Jon Bannenberg Ltd as an apprentice designer. Here he learned his trade and went on to collaborate with Bannenberg on four major sailing yachts; Shirley B (80ft), Acharne (112ft Huisman), Garuda (102ft Nautor custom) and Starlight (94ft).

In 1986, Andrew launched “Winch Design” with his wife Jane. Since its foundation, the studio has delivered 75 super yachts including both sailing and motor yacht projects – and has won over 30 prestigious awards from the leading awards bodies. With dedicated Exterior and Interior Yacht design departments and a highly experienced decorating team, AWD offers its clients a fully turnkey design package. The studio’s 2013 deliveries include  Madame Gu (99m Feadship), Sea Owl (62m Feadship) and Inoui (33m Vitters).

Andrew places great importance on nurturing and developing the AWD team. Based in a converted fire station on the banks of the Thames in London, the AWD team of 70 people (who hail from all over the world) is today recognised as one of the leading International Design Studios.