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The entry requirements of the Young Designer of the Year Award 2027

6 May 2026 • Written by Hannah Rankine

The Young Designer of the Year Award 2027, sponsored by Feadship, is open to designers who will be 28 years old or younger on 1 January 2027.

Nominations for the Young Designer of the Year Award are now open and the deadline for nominations is 16 November 2026.

SUBMIT AN ENTRY

Entry requirements

Entrants must not have been employed for financial gain in a yacht design studio*. In due course, all finalists (including winners) will be required to submit a copy of an official identity document (Passport or ID Card) as proof of their age. The award is for individuals, so in creating a design, competitors must work alone.

Submissions must not be published by individuals or third parties prior to the awards ceremony. Any breach of this rule will result in exclusion from the competition.

*Those wishing to enter who have been paid for living expenses during an internship at a yacht design studio will be considered for entry but must declare their exact position at the time of entry.

The task

The full task will be shared along with supporting materials and the general arrangements at the end of May. In the meantime, the brief involves designing a fully customised 65-metre catamaran motor yacht for two young families — twin brothers, their wives, and six children — who will use the vessel primarily as a shared holiday home.

The design must prioritise practicality, beauty, and a strong connection between indoor and outdoor living, while supporting an active, sport-focused lifestyle centred on water activities. The families value simplicity over opulence, preferring a “beach house” feel, and have specific rules such as no noisy motorised water toys and no personal screens, aside from a communal cinema setup. The layout must be flexible to accommodate future needs as the children grow, while also enabling shared family experiences, efficient movement, and ample storage for equipment.

Crucially, the design should challenge traditional yacht layouts by fully exploiting the advantages of a catamaran, delivering an original, elegant solution that reflects how the families will actually live onboard.

All entrants

All entrants are invited to attend a young designer event hosted by Feadship during the Monaco Yacht Show in September to meet with fellow competitors as well as our experienced panel of judges.

Finalists

This year, all the finalists will be invited to Feadship’s design office Studio De Voogt in 2027 in the Netherlands, with all expenses paid (including travel and accommodation). They will also be given free admission to the Superyacht Design Festival 2027 (expenses not included).