From May 13 to 16, 2025, La Spezia hosted the second edition of the Blue Design Summit, a premier international event dedicated to the high-end nautical design and construction sector. With a remarkable 30% increase in participation over the previous year, the summit brought together 1,100 registered attendees, 90 top-tier speakers, and over 500 professionals involved in networking activities.
Highlights and Strategic Discussions
Set under the theme “From Water to Design”, the event celebrated the profound link between marine environments and nautical innovation. It included 16 panels and roundtables at the Teatro Civico, along with an expanded program of city-wide events engaging the broader public through cultural talks, music, and design workshops.
The conference opened with a detailed market analysis by SuperYacht Times, revealing a dual-speed trend: the 30-40 meter segment showed a decline in new orders, while sales in the 40+ meter category rose. Italian shipyards reinforced their global leadership, delivering 120 units in 2024 (twice that of all competitors combined) and holding 53% of the global backlog.
Key sessions featured notable figures from the shipbuilding world including Vasco Buonpensiere (Cantiere delle Marche), Diego Deprati (Baglietto), Sebastiano Fanizza (Next Yacht Group), and Vincenzo Poerio (Tankoa Yachts). On day two, legendary yacht designers Fulvio De Simoni, Mario Pedol, Tommaso Spadolini, and Gianni Zuccon shared insights alongside a new generation of talents.
The summit also highlighted innovation through panels on waterfront design, floating structures, and emerging yacht typologies: from exploration-focused superyachts to new hydrodynamic hull forms and luxury residential yachts. One panel, moderated by Désirée Sormani, Managing Director of THE ONE Yacht & Design, focused on next-gen designers and their vision of yachts as serene, accessible spaces blending functionality and well-being.
Blue Design Awards 2025
The event culminated with the Miglio Blue Design Award ceremony, recognizing excellence across multiple categories. Honorees included:
- Lifetime Achievement Awards: Gianni Zuccon, Mario Pedol
- Heritage Award: Cantiere Codecasa
- Innovation in Sustainability: Frauscher Porsche, Grand Soleil Blue
- Concept Design: Azimut Seadeck 7, SEAWOLFx by Rossinavi
- Special recognitions for waterfront and floating architecture projects by Zaha Hadid Architects, RPBW, and Studio Luca Dini
The Future of Nautical Design
BDS25 explored not just vessels, but also the potential of living and leisure on water, with focus areas including residential yachts, floating hubs, and coastal infrastructure. Sessions highlighted how Italian designers are translating nautical aesthetics into terrestrial architecture, reflecting a broader evolution of design culture.
With strong institutional backing and growing global relevance, the Blue Design Summit continues to cement its role as a reference point for the superyacht and luxury design industry.
For more information: www.bluedesignsummit.it
