Four Staffordshire University students have been shortlisted in the Superyacht UK Young Designer 2023 final – which starts today.
The competition, sponsored by Marine Resources, returns to the Southampton International Boat Show for the first time since 2019.
Bringing together design students from across the country, competitors are given a day and a half to design a superyacht from scratch in response to a brief from the expert judging panel.
Entrants have been shortlisted to seven dynamic designers, including Staffordshire University BA (Hons) Industrial Design: Product and Transport students Oliver Rommelrath, Taylor McGraw, Sebastian Horbacz and Jonathan Stock.
Despite its landlocked location, Staffordshire University has a strong track record at the competition, producing the past three winners.
Staffordshire University graduate and 2019 competition winner James Shakespeare joins this year’s judging panel.
He said: “Winning the competition in 2019 opened the door to some great opportunities after I finished my degree. The placements I was offered with Olesinski and Pendennis gave me the invaluable experience of working in the industry.
“Following my placements, I wanted to pursue a career in yacht design, and started working at Princess Yachts in 2020. I’d like to wish all of this year’s competitors the best of luck.”
This year’s winner will be given the choice of either an internship with Olesinski or Sunseeker. Once the winner has chosen which they prefer the other will be offered to the runner-up.
James joins a panel of six judges with decades of industry success between them, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to the competition.
Chair of Superyacht UK Stephen Hills said: “This competition provides a unique and wonderful opportunity for the many talented young designers we have in this country to showcase their skills and vision and may even provide the first steps into a future career in the industry, and I am extremely excited to see what these young designers come up with.”
The Superyacht UK Young Designer competition runs today (Tuesday 19) to Wednesday 20 September. Each of the entrants will present their designs to the judging panel before winners will be announced at a prize giving ceremony on Thursday 21 September.
Fantastic to see the University involved with this sector and shining a light on Staffordshire expertise. Our business is a dominant force in one specific line of supply to the Superyacht community and its an excellent market for Staffordshire businesses and graduates.