In pictures: The Superyacht Design Festival 2022

6 July 2022

Take a look at what happened in Milan during the 2022 Superyacht Design Festival, where The Mall played host to the Design & Innovation Awards and two days of inspiring talks, a designer gallery and an exciting social agenda with leaders from the world of superyachts and design.

The awards

Guests getting ready for the 2022 Design & Innovation Awards to commence

BOAT contributing editor Marilyn Mower, Lifetime Achievement Award winner Gerard Dijkstra and event host Shirley Robertson OBE

Ignacio Bourgon celebrates winning the Young Designer of the Year Award 2022

All the winners from the 2022 BOAT Design & Innovation Award

The Superyacht Design Festival got underway with the all-important Design & Innovation Awards. Recognising the finest feats in superyacht design – including naval architecture, styling, and technology – this year’s finalists included World Superyacht Award winners 94 metre Viva and sailing yacht Path. The ceremony also saw this year's Young Designer of the Year go to Ignacio Bourgon, and the Lifetime Achievement award presented to Gerard Dijkstra.

The conference

Legendary Italian automotive designer Giorgetto Giugiaro in conversation with Italian journalist Giosuè Boetto Cohen

The conference included a panel on whether 100% fossil free yachts will be possible in the future

Michael Altenhofen, director of human space flights at SpaceX, spoke about the future of space tourism

Patricia Viel, co-founder of Citterio Viel, spoke to BOAT's Features Director Charlotte Hogarth-Jones about her design inspirations

BOAT International's US Editor Cecile Gauert hosted a conversation discussing the future of autonomous yachting

Yacht designers Luiz de Basto and Giorgio Cassetta were some of the many high profile designers to attend the event

Four experts from the world of lighting and design discussed the future of responsive design and art

Conference guests were able to hear and learn from speakers such as world-famous architect and urban planner Stefano Boeri, yacht designer Giorgio Cassetta and architect Patricia Viel. Aiming to create debate and further discussion, topics during the conference included whether superyachts will ever be able to run without fossil fuels, and the role space tourism will play for UHNWIs. Panellists were sat in brightly-patterned tub chairs provided by the Dolce and Gabbana Home Collection.

The celebrations

Guests gathered in Milan's COVA Courtyard following the Design & Innovation Awards

Designer Luiz de Basto attending the celebratory cocktails held in partnership with Promemoria

Lürssen's sales director Michael Breman and Dykstra Naval Architects founder Gerard Dykstra

For those who took part and witnessed the BOAT Design & Innovation Awards, the event was followed by celebratory cocktails in the COVA Courtyard in partnership with Promemoria.

The festival social

Visionnaire’s flagship store in Milan was the location for the second evening

Andrew Winch and Paolo Foglizzo

Bernardo Zuccon, Mario Pedol and Giorgio Cassetta were among the guests who enjoyed the evening

Guests were able to admire Visionnaire's creative pieces

The elegant setting provided the ideal backdrop for winding down the day

Damen's SeaXplorer design manager Enrique Tintore

After the first day of the conference, the social programme continued with the Festival Social, which was held at interior design studio Visionnaire’s flagship store. As well as taking in the brand's one-of-a-kind designs and collections, guests were treated to cocktails, canapés and a live DJ.

The design challenge

Award winner Michel Dragoni and Triton's president Patrick Lahey

The winner of Triton Submarine's Design Challenge, Michel Dragoni

Michel Dragoni was presented his award by Triton's president Patrick Lahey

To mark the end of the Superyacht Design Festival, Triton's president Patrick Lahey revealed designer Michel Dragoni as the winner of Triton Submarine's Design Challenge.

The sponsors

Several inspiring furniture displays were on show, including a refined exhibit from Promemoria

The finalists of the 2022 Young Designer of the Year competition, which is held in partnership with Oceanco

Benetti's display showcased the brand's latest launches and projects

Custom Line's exhibition was a popular addition to the Design Gallery

Videoworks' exhibition provided a live-stream of the social media activity during the festival

Technogym showed off its latest equipment with an instructor on hand for demonstrations

KMF showcased its innovative stacking doors

Williams Jet Tenders had a Dieseljet 565 on display

The Rug Company presented some of its products and hand crafted materials

A new addition to the Superyacht Design Festival was the Designer Gallery in the Mall, where the 2022 event partners were exhibited for guests. Here, attendees could network in the specially-curated space between panel discussions.

BOAT International would like to extend a special thank you to all of our event partners this year; Oceanco, Benetti, Videoworks, Custom Line, Visionnaire, KMF, Sanlorenzo, Technogym, Promemoria, TransferMate and The Rug Company, without whom the event would not be possible. We would also like to thank our supporting partners; Viraver, HFW, Mariaflora, Paolo Pontiggia, Williams Jet Tenders and Triton Submarines for their continued support.

Nominations are now open for the 2023 Design & Innovation Awards and Young Designer of the Year Award until Friday 7 October and Monday 14 November 2022 respectively.