Yacht designers

Arch. Franco Gnessi founded Dynaship Yacht Design (DYD), now DYDXL Design Forge, in Latina, Italy. An architect trained at Rome's La Sapienza with post-graduate studies in naval architecture and hydrodynamics, he was technical director at the Itama shipyard and has taught yacht design in Rome and Pescara.

His studio handles the whole design path in-house, from hull lines and hydrodynamic calculations to 3D modelling and tank testing, for yachts from 15 m to 60 m and beyond.

Rome-based architect and yacht designer. After six years at Gianni Zuccon's studio on projects for Ferretti, Bertram and CRN, he opened Marco Casali Too Design in 2004. The studio designs exteriors and interiors, from production boats to custom yachts of 30 to 110 metres.

Founded in 1983 by brothers Japec and Jernej Jakopin in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The studio develops power and sailing boats from 20 to 80 feet, from concept and naval architecture to structure, tooling and production design. Its founders were named Designer of the Year at the 2024 Boat Builder Awards.

American yacht designer and founder of Designova Creative. He was yacht design lead at Omega Architects from 2009 to 2012, working on a 65 m Heesen, and has contributed to or led more than 40 custom yachts. He is lead designer at the electric boat builder Voltari.

Seattle-based superyacht designer. He spent nearly seven years in Jon Bannenberg's London studio, as lead designer on the 73 m Lürssen Coral Island, and founded JQB Design in 1995. The studio covers exterior and interior design for new builds and refits.

Norwegian-born designer and boat builder who founded Strand Craft in 2003, a design and development company for custom luxury boats built in Florida. He is known for bold superyacht concepts and custom watercraft.