Valentina Zannier

Italian yacht designer Valentina Zannier has years of experience in interior yacht design under her belt – but life could have gone down a very different path were it not for a good dose of serendipity.  “Growing up in Venice, surrounded by tourists admiring every angle of my city, studying architecture was a logical choice, even if it took my parents’ convincing to push me in that direction,” explains Zannier. 

She duly studied architecture in Venice and then went on to work in the field – all the while marvelling at yachting interiors in magazines on the side. When she was introduced to Carlo Nuvolari and Dan Lenard, founders of yacht designers Nuvolari-Lenard, she jumped at the chance to work with them. “Things started to move really quickly,” she recalls. “I was fully immersed in this incredible world from the very start.” 

Happily, it turned out that her architectural background had huge advantages for the new direction her career was taking. “Understanding architecture really helps when you’re designing boat interiors,” Zannier explains. “You have a good perception of the space and are used to making practical things beautiful.” 

After a few big projects, Zannier was offered a partnership, and two decades later, having worked on some of the most exceptional yachts in the business, she struck out on her own and set up her eponymous studio.

The creative process 

With a project as complex as a superyacht, it is no surprise that there are many stages to the creative process of yacht design and Zannier relishes each one. “The first stage for me is sharing a special book I’ve prepared with the owners. This is packed with a collection of photos of anything from hotels to real estate, even joinery details, pieces of furniture and lighting. From there, they get back to me with the sort of things they like and this is a big help.”

Contact with the owners throughout the process is obviously paramount and that means that Zannier’s job naturally involves a lot of travel. “It’s not just about sitting down with them,” she says, “it’s about understanding the way they live and the way they want to live on the yacht. You have to spend time with them, embrace their nationality and even the way they dress.” 

After that, it’s time for Zannier to start sketching. “I am a big believer in sketching and drawing by hand,” she says. “Today’s technology allow us to produce incredibly realistic renderings, but I love the idea of an idea being born in my brain then passing through my hand to a sheet of paper”

The most satisfying part of course, comes at the end of a project, when the yacht is ready for the client to see. “Designing a yacht is a very personal affair that can go on for years. Having spent all this time with the owner, it is very special to receive messages and lovely videos from the owner as they enjoy their yacht”

Designing for families 

Each project is of course enormously different from the next – and Zannier is quick to point out that not every superyacht is designed to be ‘pristine or high gloss’ as might be perceived by the outside world. “A lot of the time the boats are being used for family travel,” she says. Boats built for families give Zannier the freedom to let her imagination run wild. “If the boat isn’t being built for charter, you can really go crazy customising the rooms for the kids.” 

One project that springs to mind for Zannier is a yacht with a huge cinema room. “All the chairs flipped down and the room became this enormous field of soft play mattresses anchored by stairs and ropes. It was super fun.”

Safety is another challenge when designing for children. “I am known in my industry for designing things that have curves. I see this as a big help because kids like to run!”

Sustainability in design 

Over the last five years or so, Zannier has noticed a change in the way that owners approach design. “Suddenly, there is this awareness about sustainability. Many of the owners are younger now, so it could be a generational thing, but I also think that we are far more sensitive to these things as an industry.”

Despite being passionate about sustainability, Zannier is realistic about the challenges and perceptions of the industry. “This is a complex world, and I would be a liar to say that a superyacht is a sustainable object, but we are all trying to contribute to find better solutions.” For Zannier, that means proposing materials that are sustainable and guiding owners towards environmentally responsible choices.

“We are also helped by the suppliers now who are working to replace materials that have a negative impact on nature. I no longer want or need to propose materials that use the skin of an animal for example. Technology helps too – there are printing technologies that create beautiful yet sustainable leather-like textiles and eco-friendly materials. New alternatives are being developed all the time.”

Zannier has also noticed that shipyards are doing their bit. All of this helps, she says. “If you’re a young owner approaching your first yacht project, you can’t help but look around and see sustainability everywhere. Owners have a sharper eye for this now. There is still a long way to go, but progress is being made and every effort counts.”