Yacht Designers’ Dream Kit

Transforming ideas into visual elements is the hallmark of yacht designers that are expertly adept at extracting the mind’s innovation and turning it into a detailed graphical representation of their vision.

Numerous tools have the ability to transfer the biological process of creation into an analog surface, a paper. At NAVIS, we followed our curiosity to discover which tools renowned yacht designers use to transform an idea into something that others can understand. Because of this, we contacted designers German Frers, Rob Doyle, and David Levy, head of NAVIS Yacht Design Division, to understand their process and preferred design tools. We focused on designers that still use the traditional method of drawing and sketching their ideas by hand, as we believe the art of hand drawing is one of the most versatile and beautiful ways of expressing an idea.

With a history of designing successful racing yachts and currently competing on the med season races aboard S/Y Recluta, designer German Frers comments:
“My work tools are tracing paper, the ideal was K&E “Albanene” for its texture and resistance to the elements. Also 12” wide yellow or transparent tracing rolls and markers of all brands, ideally Stabilo Pilot high Tech Point. Soft pencils, .5 mm lead holders or anything I can get my hands on, along with a Caran d’Ache colored pencil. Many sketches are made on top of prints of hull plans, created with Macsurf programs or 3D surface prints created with Siemens NX or 2D AutoCAD. All these sketches are freehand, of course.”

An old friend of NAVIS, yacht designer Rob Doyle, who presented a new sailing yacht project at the Monaco Yacht Show a few weeks ago, commented about his creative process.
“The perfect design tools start with one’s “mind’s eye” and translating this down to paper. It’s a skill set that’s taken two decades to master and being able to get a simple sketch close to reality is so rewarding. This starts with the Staedtler 0.5mm HB mechanical pencil and Ultrafine Sharpie, getting the broad strokes down on media and out from one’s mind’s eye is key. Next is the master curves in 2D that make sure that your 3D is not drawn by the computer 3D package and allow time for you to really think through the design. You need to be your own critic and make the tough decision to go back a few steps to get the results you want, or totally walk away and start again. You have got to really love and get excited about your own work. Merging into 3D to get the real-world look and understanding what you really see in true life is important at this stage, highlighting the key items to have your concept that jumps out and wow’s the client! “

Navis Yachts has recently taken its own yacht design division public, and David Levy, the head of Navis’s design team, sums up the delicate process he uses to capture elements of conceptual design:

“The best creations are done using an elegant balance between chaos and order. As a metaphor for those two elements, I like to use analog tools that are usually in contrast: a fine line black ink waterproof pen, a very wide modern Japanese dark grey ink brush, and white gouache for highlights. Using ink creates a very dogmatic reality, enforcing the concept that a design is good or not. It also forces one to constantly have a fresh eye and see original patterns that may arise from the contrasts created. The sketches created have to stay simple yet striking, so they do not lock in stone and hamper the digital process that follows.

Specific tools I use:

• Pentel art brush Gray
• Pentel Presto white corrector
• Stabilo Sensor black pen

Following our research, we decided to investigate the market to identify the perfect toolset we believe is the Designers Dream Kit for this essential creative process step.

The NAVIS Designer’s Dream Kit should contain the essential tools and elements needed to translate ideas with clarity and precision. Finely tuned and balanced instruments provide a yacht designer with the apparatus required to bring structural components and convert meticulous compositions from the mind’s eye and breathe them into life.

The first element of the Designers’ Dream Kit has to be a pencil, the essential tool to fully interpret a designer’s intricate creation. After extensive research, NAVIS recommends the following pencil because of its quality, precision, and presentation as the ultimate designer’s pencil:

1. Graf von Faber-Castell Perfect Pencil

A design that delights and impresses, the top-quality cedarwood is available in a selection of colors and perfectly balanced for sketching or writing. The Perfect Pencil provides an enhanced grip with a ribbed design. Everything needed is at hand with an eraser and sharpener built right into the pencil’s elegant silver cap.

Every designer knows that one single pencil is the essential first step of the process, but as a tool is limited to express the unlimited possibilities of creativity. While analyzing the toolset that will follow the pencil step, and based on what we learn from the designers we interviewed, we knew that we would need an extensive set of tools to fit any graphic intention. The number of tools available in the market is vast, starting with inks, aquarelles to an unlimited range of pastels and oils. But we were looking for one kit set that will fulfill most of the designers’ desires right after the pencil work. Again, we found this tool kit between Faber-Castell’s unique products.

2. Faber-Castel Pitt® Monochrome Assortment - Wood Case of 77

A full range of classic drawing products and materials is conveniently housed in a stylish wooden case. The Pitt Monochrome Assortment contains 77 products between pencils, pastels, charcoals, oils, graphites, erasers, sharpeners, and numerous accessories that will provide the ultimate designer’s companion for on paper renderings and architectural compositions.

Technical drawings of naval architecture, interiors, and the external lines of superyachts are brought to fruition by the skills of talented yacht designers. Along with technical and aesthetic details, the imagery needs to support the initial concept through to the manufacturing process. Having a designer’s dream kit containing the Graf von Faber-Castell Perfect Pencil and the Pitt Monochrome

Assortment at hand will allow designs to flow freely and effortlessly translate concepts into tangible visual impressions, collaborating and defining the future of yacht design.