Young Designer Finalists visit Lürssen
In February 2012, Lürssen invited the five finalists of the 2011 Young Designer of the Year Award to visit their shipyards in Northern Germany for two days of activities and valuable experience. The group of finalists consisted of six talented young people, some coming from as far away as Sao Paulo, Perth, Seattle and Miami.
Day One
The first stop was the Lürssen Rendsburg facility. During the tour, the finalists had the opportunity to see three yachts of around 85 metres all at different stages of build and met with the key technical staff that are responsible for delivering these magnificent vessels.
After the shipyard tour, the trip lead them further south to Bremen. Following dinner at a local restaurant with an impressive view of the Lürssen facilities, they had the opportunity to present their own projects to Lürssen and to each other. The aspiring young designers were enthusiastic about discussing their work and to see the new ideas presented by their peers.
“To visit a superyacht builder like Lurssen was a dream come true for a designer. It was a truly inspirational experience… I couldn’t wait to get sketching on my next project,” reported Misha Merzliakov, 2011 Finalist.
Day Two
The next day began with another shipyard tour through the Lürssen facilities in Bremen and finalists had the opportunity to talk to the Head of the Mechanical Engineering at Lürssen, who gave them a further insight in the complexity of superyacht construction.
Finalist Jorge Jabor commented: “To be able to see the building process of these enormous yachts from sheet metal to interior details was a truly unique opportunity. The time spent with the Lürssen professionals during the tours allowed us to ask questions regarding subjects that are cannot be learned from books.”
Friday afternoon was laid out for entertainment. The young designers had the chance to participate in the annual “Lürssen Bossel Tour”, alongside the owner’s representatives and crews who spend many months in Bremen and Rendsburg during the building process or while their yacht is undergoing refit works.
It was an entertaining and sportive afternoon, with 12 teams battling to win the coveted trophy. Following the game, all teams came together to enjoy a supper of Kohl and Pinkel, a traditional North-German winter dish. After dinner, the DJ’s choice of music got everybody on the dance floor and celebrations lasted into the early hours.
“As a young aspiring designer, I can’t imagine a better opportunity than the Lürssen tour. Our hosts made sure that we were immersed in the entire build process, knowing that we would walk away with valuable knowledge pertaining to our future in the business. The Bossel game and after party wrapped up the trip on a fun note. It was a great opportunity to unwind with new friends”, said Michael Givens, winner of the 2011 Award.
Entering the 2012 Competition
Entries for the 2012 Young Designer of the Year Award are now open and close on May 9, 2012. The competition brief, rules and entry requirements are available to download from the ShowBoats Design Awards website.
The winner will receive €5,000 prize money and, along with the top five competition finalists, will benefit from a host of incredible opportunities aimed at advancing their early design careers, including complimentary access to the two-day Superyacht Design Symposium.
For further information, please contact:
Holly Lunn | Events & Marketing Executive
Tel: +44 (0) 20 8545 9336 | Email: holly.lunn@boatinternationalmedia.com
Roger Lean-Vercoe | Chairman of the Judges
Tel: +44 (0)1752 881435 | Email: roger.lean-vercoe@boatinternationalmedia.com
