The Next Wave Now”. More than just a slogan, it is a statement of intent. The third edition of the Blue Design Summit, the international forum dedicated to nautical design and the “water-related” sector, came to a close in La Spezia (18–20 May). Over three days, the Teatro Civico brought together designers, architects, shipyards and companies from across the supply chain to discuss the future of the blue economy. A future which, as emerged from the various panel discussions, is no longer a distant prospect but an ongoing transformation.
At the heart of the debate was not only nautical design, but the entire ecosystem revolving around the sea: waterfronts, hospitality, marinas, yacht clubs, sustainability and technological innovation. A broad vision, reflecting the increasingly strategic role of the blue economy.
La Spezia, after all, is now one of the world’s leading hubs for high-end yachting. The “Miglio Blu” is home to a significant share of international yacht and superyacht production, alongside a supply chain that combines manufacturing, creativity, technology and research. According to the data presented, Italy is consolidating its global leadership with over 53% of the world’s order book in the superyacht sector.
Above all, the summit highlighted a paradigm shift. The yacht is no longer seen merely as a luxury item, but as an advanced platform for technological experimentation. The panels dedicated to “future-proof design” discussed innovative materials, hybrid systems, alternative fuels and new design solutions conceived to integrate the energy technologies of the future. A challenge that involves not only shipyards but the entire world of industrial design.
Among the most closely followed talks was that of Francesco Paszkowski, who emphasised the need to design yachts “capable of standing the test of time”, stressing that today’s design must combine stylistic identity, sustainability and technological flexibility. Mauro Micheli of Officina Italiana Design, meanwhile, spoke of a sector that must continue to “maintain emotion and recognisability” whilst entering a new industrial phase dominated by energy innovation and materials research.
These themes were also taken up by Enrico Lumini of Hot Lab, who argued that “contemporary luxury is no longer about ostentation but about the quality of the experience, comfort and an intelligent relationship with the environment”.
Considerable attention was also devoted to the relationship between architecture and the sea. International designers and design studios discussed new forms of living on the water, marinas integrated with resorts and urban spaces capable of redefining the very concept of the contemporary waterfront. The idea that emerged is that of an increasingly integrated “blue lifestyle”, in which boating, tourism and design interact with one another.
In the session dedicated to waterfronts, Paolo Zilli of Zaha Hadid Architects described new coastal infrastructure as “hybrid spaces, where architecture, mobility and landscape must constantly interact”. Bernardo Zuccon’s presentation struck a similar note, explaining how nautical design today must increasingly “focus on the way people experience the sea”, moving beyond the traditional distinction between interiors, exteriors and the surrounding area.
There was also a strong focus on sustainability, now central to the sector’s strategies. The “Designing for Exploration – Leave No Trace” competition involved students of design, architecture and naval engineering, who were asked to imagine explorer yachts capable of navigating the most fragile ecosystems whilst minimising environmental impact. Luxury and ecological responsibility are no longer seen as opposing concepts, but as elements destined to coexist in the nautical world of the future.
But above all, the Blue Design Summit demonstrated a new awareness: the nautical sector is no longer a separate niche, but rather an advanced laboratory where research, architecture, sustainability, manufacturing and design culture converge. And this is perhaps the true legacy left by the event. La Spezia does not wish to be merely the Italian capital of superyachts. It aims to become one of the places where the future of the relationship between man, design and the sea is imagined.
Marta Gasparini
