Over 100 entries for the seventh edition of the Award promoted by Confindustria Nautica and the Genoa International Boat Show, spanning design, research and sustainability
Genoa, 2 October – Last night, excellence in the yachting industry shone beneath the open sky from the Blue Pavilion Terrace at the 66th Genoa International Boat Show. A spectacular ceremony celebrated design, research, innovation and sustainability, the defining themes of the 7th edition of the Design Innovation Award. Since 2020, this international award, promoted by Confindustria Nautica – Italian Marine Industry Association and the Boat Show, has recognised and showcased the finest examples of contemporary yachting, capable of transforming technology and creativity into new forms of beauty.
Piero Formenti, President of Confindustria Nautica, opened the ceremony by first thanking the guests and highlighting the independent work of the jury in selecting the winners: “I am very happy this evening, not least because we have reached 100 entries. This is a great success for our Design Innovation Award, now in its seventh edition. This year, we also have Paolo Brescia as President of the Award. He is a sailor, but also the architect who designed the Casa Vela (Sailing House), a home for sailors, a fantastic building. I therefore believe he is the best President we could have had this year for this event, here on this fantastic terrace“.
The jury, comprising distinguished Italian and international experts from the worlds of design, yachting, research, journalism and institutions, was chaired this year by Paolo Brescia, architect and co-founder of OBR (Open Building Research), and a leading figure in contemporary architecture. He also designed Casa Vela (the Sailing House), a new building that enriches the Waterfront di Levante. During the award ceremony, he stated: “Casa Vela is an idea that originated with Confindustria Nautica and I Saloni Nautici. We were simply the paintbrush for a fantastic idea conceived to connect the sea with the city, so thank you very much. I must also thank all the jury members: I have learnt a great deal over these two days. It has been a fantastic experience for me. Everyone did an excellent job: there were more than 100 products to assess, and it was not easy. The aim of this Award is to recognise projects that stand out for research, innovation and sustainability, while also focusing on promoting a new approach to design in terms of responsibility”.
The winners were selected by the jury through an independent, multidisciplinary assessment process, a defining feature of the Award since its inception. This prestigious international award comprises 11 categories, three special prizes (for Outstanding Innovation, Career and Talent) and two Honourable Mentions for products deserving particular attention. The winners were selected from over 100 entries by an independent international jury for the ability of designers and manufacturers to conceive and create products distinguished by design, research, innovation and sustainability.
Luisa Bocchietto, architect and Coordinator of the Award’s Steering Committee, and one of the driving forces who brought the Award to life and shaped it from its first edition, then took to the stage to begin the prize ceremony: “I am very happy to be here with you again this year to celebrate the seventh edition of the Design Innovation Award. I would like to thank Confindustria Nautica and I Saloni Nautici for giving me the opportunity to oversee this Award personally and contribute to its growth. Special thanks also go to Paolo Brescia, who chaired the jury this year, and to all its members for their excellent work. Assessing more than 100 projects was not easy, and I am particularly grateful for the commitment and dedication everyone has shown. I am also very proud to present a book this evening bringing together all the winners, alongside contributions from the institutions, jury members and young designers who took part in the previous six editions“.
The number of entries has risen from around 40 projects in the first edition to 100. This trend demonstrates the vitality of the industry and its ability to evolve continuously through a focus on quality, research and environmental sustainability. It also reflects the standing of the Design Innovation Award, which, edition after edition, confirms its role as a privileged vantage point on trends in yacht design and a prestigious platform showcasing Made in Italy excellence, with its beautiful, well-crafted products, and the most pioneering companies on the international scene.
CATEGORIES, WINNERS AND JURY MOTIVATIONS
Sailing boats, motorboats or inflatable boats (up to 10 m LH) Key Largo 25 – Sessa Marine – Designer: Daniele Mazzon
Motivation: A perfect combination of dynamic, contemporary design and innovative functionality, incorporating modular features typical of much larger boats
Sailing yachts (up to 14 m LH) Dufour 39 – Dufour – Interior Design: Luca Ardizio – Naval Architecture: Umberto Felci Yacht Design
Motivation: The Dufour 39 continues the brand’s journey of design innovation through meticulous attention to appealing aesthetics and detail, maximising interior volume and usability.
Sailing yachts over 14 m: Grand Soleil 60 – Cantiere del Pardo – Designer: Nauta Design – Naval Architecture: Matteo Polli
Motivation: Complementing the ingenious engineering of the cockpit and deck, it offers an exceptional, spacious interior layout and high-quality finishes.
Motorboats (up to 14 m LH): A48 O/B – Cranchi Yachts – Designer: Cranchi Research Team – Naval Architecture: Aldo Cranchi – Art Direction: Christian Grande
Motivation: This maxi-crossover yacht with generous volumes transforms the cockpit into an expansive beach area thanks to its fold-down bulwarks.
Motorboats over 14 m LH: Pardo GT65 – Cantiere del Pardo – Designer: Nauta Design – Naval Architecture: Zuccheri Yacht Design
Motivation: The Pardo GT65 impressed the jury with its distinctive spatial layout and the panoramic experience offered by the wheelhouse design, creating an exceptional living environment on board.
Superyachts (over 24 m LH): Magellano 27M – Azimut Yachts – Hull Designer: Pierluigi Asonio, Azimut Benetti R&D Dept – Exterior Designer: Jarkko Jamsén, Navia Design – Interior Designer: Michele De Lucchi and AMDL Circle
Motivation: A design that brings to the superyacht segment a combination of a departure from stylistic conventions, an innovative layout, elegant finishes and a seamless relationship with high standards of interior space quality. The result is a product with a strong identity that clearly expresses its vocation as a boat to be lived in.
Maxi RIBs (over 10 m LH) – MX-15 Explorer – Magazzù Yachting – Designer: Cantiere Magazzù
Motivation: A multifunctional and exceptionally elegant concept offering a high level of comfort, with carefully considered interior materials and colours, designed for travel and outdoor water activities.
Multihulls: Lagoon 47 – Lagoon Catamarans – Naval Architecture: VPLP Design – Exterior Designer: Patrick Le Quément – Interior Designer: Nauta Design
Motivation: The most innovative feature of the Lagoon 47 catamaran is the direct passage seamlessly connecting the interior saloon to the forward cockpit lounge area, combined with a generous spatial layout and a refined selection of colours and materials.
Marine components (structural and functional elements) Accessories: MILOS COAX – MZ Electronics
Motivation: Unlike conventional warping winches installed at 90°, which require access below deck in often confined spaces, the product’s innovative “in-line” design allows installation and maintenance entirely from the deck, with clear benefits for the shipyard and the end user.
Accessories and equipment: Bettersea Power – Bettersea Power
Motivation: Innovation, safety and sustainability are at the heart of this seamless integration of renewable energy generation directly into the quay, where it is needed.
On-board electronics and software: SmartDrive – Garmin
Motivation: A truly radical innovation in the autopilot actuator, reducing energy consumption, wiring, external components and installation complexity while increasing reliability and flexibility.
Honourable Mention: Sailing boats, motorboats or inflatable boats (up to 10 m LH) Sestante 6.8 Lupo di Mare – Verga 1958 – Designer: Matteo Costa Yacht Design
Motivation: The Verga 1958 impresses with its entry-level price, contemporary yachting style and sustainable approach to materials and construction.
Honourable Mention: Motorboats over 14 m LH Riva 56 Rivale Super – Ferretti Group – Designer: Officina Italiana Design and Ferretti Group
Motivation: The Riva’s characteristically streamlined, harmonious silhouette is enhanced by the selection of fine, contemporary materials for the interiors, as well as innovative design solutions.
Special Prizes
Special Prize for Outstanding Innovation: Icona 70 by Mangusta – Overmarine Group – Designer: Lobanov Design, Overmarine Group and Effebi New Project – presented by Venini
Special Prize for Outstanding Talent (for ideas and entrepreneurial ventures with high potential): Limenet – presented by Mario Peserico, Managing Director of Eberhard & Co.
Special Prize for Outstanding Career: Veleria San Giorgio and Gottifredi Maffioli – presented by Giuseppe La Boria, General Manager of BPER Banca for Liguria and Piedmont.
Also speaking during the award ceremony was Fabrizio Ferrari, a member of the Genoa Chamber of Commerce, who began by highlighting the strategic partnership between the Chamber of Commerce and Confindustria Nautica, with which it works side by side to support the Genoa International Boat Show. “The event is a platform that generates affinities, relationships and opportunities, and operates as a leading international app for the yachting industry,” stated Ferrari. “This Award has significant value because it looks to the future of our industry, research, creativity and sustainability. By recognising the ability to design and create innovative products, it allows us to look at businesses with ambition and vision. This year, the Genoa Boat Show will also be accompanied by a Fuori Salone with a rich programme of events. I invite you all to take part and experience what Genoa has to offer, a city that deserves to be explored”.
Next to take to the stage was Nicola Bonacchi, Head of Development and Innovation at Salone del Mobile, representing the Milan design event: “It is a pleasure for me to be here. Italy has two great areas of excellence: design and yachting. For this reason, Salone del Mobile has decided to introduce a new event from next year, scheduled for April, to create a connection between the worlds of yachting and design: it will be called the ‘Salone Contact’. It will be an opportunity to bring these two sectors together and encourage new opportunities for meeting, collaboration and development. This is a new project for us, which we began working on this year with Confindustria Nautica, with the aim of identifying the best way to present it and offering everyone the best opportunities to create a tangible connection between these two worlds. We therefore hope to see you all in Milan in mid-April”.
The event, moderated by Sky Sport journalist Valentina Fass, was also made possible by the participation of main partners such as BPER BANCA, ALFA ROMEO, EBERHARD&Co, GENOA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE who presented the special prizes.
As part of “Ottobre Paganini”, the event taking place in Genoa to celebrate one of its most famous citizens, a string trio performed during the Design Innovation Award evening.
JURY MEMBERS
Design and yachting experts
Aleks TATIC – Designer
Annette LANG – Designer
Expert industry journalists (Italian and international):
Francesco MICHIENZI – Editor of “Barche”
Pierpaolo BELLINA – Editor of “Il Gommone”
Nabil FARHAT – Editor of “The World of Yachts & Boats”
Representatives of academia or industry bodies and institutions
Andrea RATTI – Executive Director – Master’s in Yacht Design at Politecnico di Milano
Yacht owner or prominent figure from the worlds of art, business and culture
Marco SABETTA – General Manager of Salone del Mobile.Milano
Representative of the Steering Committee, acting as coordinator without voting rights
Luisa BOCCHIETTO – Architect, Designer and Member of the Steering Committee
In previous editions, the Design Innovation Award has served as a springboard for emerging companies and highly innovative projects, helping to raise their profile and develop new entrepreneurial paths in the yachting industry.
Notable examples include Moi Composites (Politecnico di Milano), which received the 2020 Innovation Award for MAMBO; UniBoat (University of Bologna), recognised in 2021 for a highly experimental university project; and Ecoracer by nlcomp, which brought to public attention the first racing boat built using natural fibre and recyclable thermoplastic resin. These examples demonstrate the Award’s strategic value in promoting productive synergies between business, research and creativity, charting new courses towards a sustainable and competitive future.
