Interview with Sarp Yachts

Sarp Yachts ("SY") interviewed on Tuesday, 27 March.

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?

SY : My background is a mix between art and car design, I spent the high school period in the artistic lyceum, and then I attended the ISSAM, a private university focused on the car design.My first professional experience was a short stage in Alfa Romeo, I worked in the advance design team. My yacht design experience started when I worked in the Christian Grande's studio, from 2001 to 2002.I founded Hot Lab in 2004 with my actual two partners, from that time I worked on several project. The most important built yacht signed is probably the 50m MY Ipanema.

How did you become a designer?

SY : I've always been a good artistic talent; it helped me a lot in my decision. I decided to become a designer in 1996, during the artistic lyceum period. My main passion was the automotive; I remember I was reading a car magazine during a boring lesson, probably a mathematic one. There was an announcement from the ISSAM School; from that time my first aim was to become a car designer.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

SY : It's important to create a beautiful shape around a specific function. Everything must be useful; everything exists for a specific reason.It's important to create a timeless design; usually a forced style makes a low value design.It's important to respect the budget and the industrial limits. An out of budget design makes the project wrong.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

SY : Honestly I like every phase, from the concept to the building. The first phase is funnier because it's possible to hazard with the design. Of course the proper goal is when the project becomes real, this is very satisfying.

What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?

SY : I think every creative process should start from another creative process. I take a good part of my inspiration from different things, basically the nature, the car design and the art. I usually take my inspiration from the music as well; this is one of my bigger interests. I think the sound draws shapes and colors; the funny thing is to be the director of this vision. I properly need the music during my creative process.

What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?

SY : My aim is not so different in comparison with the present, the important thing is not to quit the creative process, and this is the center of my work and my vision. Every project is another story, it’ impossible to lose the creativity.I admit my dream is working on a one-off car, I would like to do something similar before quit.

What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?

SY : First of all it is important to listening people, not only the client or the shipyard chairman. A modest approach is the key for the success. We never stop to learn, it's impossible to know everything. If you are sure to know everything it's because you are not a leader.

What is your day to day look like?

SY : I don't consider myself as a proper businessman, of course I am not an artist and the target is always getting money and visibility for improve Hot Lab, but I am basically a designer and I try to live in a creative way as much as possible. I love to work on the project and my focus is always on it and I am being able to work endlessly for much hours: By the way the proper business activities are important but honestly I consider it quite boring.When possible I like to find some free time every day for simple but nice activities, such as sport, a quick driving with a two seater roadster through a nice road between the mountains, or maybe a nice jazz concert in the evening. I don't like crowded places, it's important to live in a comfortable way if you need to do your best.

How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?

SY : Following the last yacht design trends is often required by the client or by the market, honestly this is against the creative vision and I need to find a good balance every time. By the way I like to follow the last trends of the other sectors, contaminating my design by a different point of view. The best part of this process came from the car design sector. It's always important to reinvent your design.

How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?

SY : I don't want to talk about my design; I leave this task to the critics or the clients. I try to follow some rules; I use the same rules to judge the other projects.As I told before, the beautiful shape is round a specific function. Everything must be useful; everything exists for a specific reason. The good timeless design doesn't show forced style.

How do you decide if your design is ready?

SY : It is not always easy to satisfy the client, sometimes happens the client or the market asks me to change against my opinion. Well, the design is ready when the client or the market is satisfied and the budget is not over the limit. I never show to the client something I don't like; I try to find the correct balance before the submission.

What is your biggest design work?

SY : I think my biggest design work is Ipanema, the biggest challenge is finding the way to build the project so I have to choose between the built ones.I found a lot of inspiration from the car design, and the shipyard's team (Mondo Marine) did a fantastic job. The client leaved me the right freedom to create a beautiful yacht, and the shipyard's team made it possible because of their talent. From my point I did a huge work finding the best way to create what I wanted, it was a big challenge!

Who is your favourite designer?

SY : My favorite designer comes not from the yacht design industry, and honestly it's impossible to choose one. I think the best designers come from the car design industry, and the best period was the 50's/60's years. My favorite designer is probably Marcello Gandini, or maybe Ferdinand Porsche.

Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?

SY : I am probably different than a mental representation of a yacht designer. I don't like so much the glamour lifestyle and crowded places, of course I like the yachts but I am totally focused on the design theme. Of course my culture affects my work; I like clean and simple lines. I never did overdesigned projects, it's out of my culture.

Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?

SY : I work with my partners and the Hot Lab team, it's impossible to work on several projects in the meantime without a good team. The most important feature I look for is the talent, the curiosity and the humility.

What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?

SY : I work for the luxury segment; the yacht is the materialization of the owner's dream. I think other professions can easily give a better contribution to the society.

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