The Young Designer of the Year Award, in association with Oceanco, is always a memorable occasion, but this year’s prize was particularly notable.
For the first time, the award was split into two categories — student and professional — doubling the number of designs that could take the limelight.
The winner in the student category was Thibaud Le Merdy, while Eric Laurent scooped the top honours in the professional category, and both were delighted to win.
“Winning the award is breathtaking,” Laurent said. “Finally I have achieved a part of my dream.”
Le Merdy was clearly not resting on his laurels, adding: “My next step is to go back to the office on Monday, continue to work, progress and create better designs.”
Both winners and the finalists for this year’s award will now be treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of Dutch superyacht specialist Oceanco.
Paris Baloumis of Oceanco explained the yard’s long-standing partnership with the Young Designer of the Year Awards by saying: “We see Oceanco as a forward-thinking company, quite a young-spirited company and we feel very connected to the young designers. This award gives them an opportunity to grow and bring something new to the market.”
A perfect example of this is Fadi Pataq, the winner of the inaugural Young Designer of the Yeard Award in 2008, who went on to work on the conversion of the 141 metre superyacht Yas.
Speaking at this year’s event, he recalled: “It was a very special feeling, that’s for sure, and it was a great door-opener into the industry as well.”