Career Definition for a SuperYacht Designer

Superyacht designers are an integral part of the conceptual and manufacturing process for leisure sail and motor yachts. As designers of a luxury good, they use their creative and industrial design abilities to make products that are both attractive and desirable to their clients. Some of their activities may include creating drawings and virtual models, developing prototypes, evaluating design practicality, and finalizing manufacturing specifications. Superyacht designers frequently work as freelance consultants and for private design companies.

Required Education

Yacht designers typically have bachelor's or postgraduate degrees in commercial and industrial design, architecture, or marine engineering. Relevant coursework may include topics in computer-aided design and drafting (CADD), manufacturing, materials, and sketching. To become more familiar with the cost estimates of the production process, some industrial or yacht designers pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA).

Skills Required

Superyacht designers must have a sense of aesthetics, function, and design. Analytical and problem-solving abilities are also essential. The Industrial Designers Society of America emphasizes that keen business and people skills aid in the success of designing and selling yachts as luxury goods.

Employment and Salary Outlook

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that employment opportunities for commercial and industrial designers, in general, will decrease by just 4% nationwide between 2019 and 2029, a slower than average rate in comparison to all other occupations. During the same 10-year period, marine engineers and naval architects will see a 1%, or faster than average, growth in employment nationwide. The annual income for yacht designers depends on their position and training background. For example, marine engineers and naval architects earned a median salary of $92,400 as of May 2019, while commercial and industrial designers earned a median salary of $68,890 in that same month.

Your Future

What does this course lead to?

This course can lead to careers in the superyacht industry, such as naval architect, designer, production manager, stylist or systems engineer.

Who is this course for?

This unique master’s programme is perfect for appropriately qualified naval architects or recent yacht engineering graduates. The course is also open to applications from master mariners and chief engineers with relevant experience.

The course team have extensive links with industry, with companies such as Lloyds Register, QinetiQ, Gurit, Solent Refit, and Alicat, through their own experience and the network of graduates from the yacht engineering undergraduate courses.

Solent University’s yacht engineering students have benefitted from recent guest lectures from Francesco Chivioli, Sunseeker; Tommasso Cigliano ,Humphries Yacht Design; Ben Mancini, X-Yachts; John Haynes, Shock Mitigation Ltd; and independent yacht designer, Joe Brierley.

Student presentations have also previously been assessed by Allan Foot, director of Solent Refit Ltd.

Yacht engineering students have also previously benefitted from industry visits to Green Marine and the International Boat Building College in Portsmouth as part of enrichment weeks.

Core Modules

Year one

• Naval Architecture (15 credits)
  The module introduces the master’s student to areas of Naval Architecture which are key to ensuring that Superyachts meet various criteria, whether they be associated with stability regulations, the accurate prediction of hull resistance & powering, range calculations, propeller optimisation, manoeuvrability, and seakeeping issues.

• Superyacht Design Principles (30 credits)
  In this module, students will cover the application of holistic superyacht design theory including hotel spaces, and gain experience in using industry-standard software to create designs and develop 2D CAD drawings, 3D computer-aided models.

• Superyacht Technology (15 credits)
  This module introduces the practical and classification aspects of structural design and vessels' dimensions, as well as the marine engineering aspect of design, which includes many specialist systems and new technologies now commonplace onboard superyachts.

• Superyacht Design Analysis (15 credits)
  This module develops and advances aspects of technical Superyacht Design within the regulatory controls which dictate stability, hydrodynamic and structural specifications, but equally allow for the progressive design to take place, which is at the heart and soul of Superyacht Design.

• Superyacht Design Realisation (30 credits)
  This module synthesises the content of the other modules into a coherent group design project which will simulate an industry-based project.

• Superyacht Project Management (15 credits)
  This module introduces the project management and key business skills which an engineer needs to have an awareness or knowledge and understanding of to manage superyacht production and work with specialist production staff and engineers.

• Project (60 credits)
  The Master’s dissertation will allow students to select (with guidance) and develop a particular Superyacht design brief or refit, which must also contain an element of research and development within.

• Superyacht Design Styling (30 credits)
  This module develops and advances aspects of both space allocation and styling of the design from both an interior and exterior aspect of the vessel.

English Language Requirements

Applicants who do not have English as their first language will be required to demonstrate an approved level of proficiency in the use of the English language. The agreed minimum requirements for this course are:

• IELTS 6.5 with no component score below 5.5

• TOEFL IBT 92 with a minimum of 22 in writing and a minimum of 19 in reading, listening, and speaking

• Duolingo English Language Test - 110 overall with a minimum 90 in each component

• or equivalent

Qualifications are checked before enrolment, and international students must bring their original certificates or certified copies when coming to study at the University.