February 24, 2016
ArtCenter College of Design student named Young Designer of the Year by world-class yacht designers and builders
New Marine Design specialization nurtures top talent in the Olympics of luxury sea faring vessels
ArtCenter College of Design student Baoqi Xiao has been named Boat International’s 2016 Young Designer of the Year, known as one of the most prestigious marine design awards in the world. Judges described the 25-year-old’s winning concept for a fast 45-metre motor yacht as “An intelligent, visually attractive and excellent starting point for a vessel that would completely fulfill the goal” (to entertain the guests of the imaginary owner, a female Italian fashion designer).
“This year, there’s been a much higher standard [of entries] than previous years,” said Tim Heywood, judge and yacht designer. “I think the vast majority [of students in the competition] could look forward to a good career in the industry.”
Celebrating the award with Xiao in Kitzbuhel, Austria is fellow ArtCenter Transportation Design student Leah Gowoon Park, 24, who was among six finalists in the competition. The students travelled from Pasadena to Europe, to participate in the Superyacht Design Symposium and award ceremony this week. In April, they’ll wing off again but this time to the Netherlands to tour the Dutch shipyard of award sponsor, Oceanco, a world-class builder of custom superyachts.
“We’re over the moon about this global recognition of our talented students,” said Stewart Reed, chair of the Transportation Design department.
“For student work to be honored on an international stage is very gratifying and a strong endorsement from leading professionals in the field that we’re on the right path as we prepare a new generation of boat and yacht designers,” Reed said.
“Our enhanced Marine Design courses, emphasizing both interior and exterior design, have rapidly gained momentum and notoriety under the leadership of an outstanding faculty made up of professional designers,” said Jay Sanders, executive director of Transportation Design. “In fact, instructor and alumnus Adam Voorhees, won this same award when he was a student before going on to a successful practice in yacht design.”
Leah Gowoon Park grew up in Seoul, South Korea, and Baoqi Xiao was raised in Zhongshan in Guangdong Province, China. Both are currently residents of Pasadena, California and completing their 5th term studies of an eight-term Bachelor of Science degree program.
The Young Designer of the Year award celebrates the most talented student and trainee designers and provides a realistic client superyacht request to best mimic a real-world design challenge. The competition is part of the annual ShowBoats Design Awards honoring the creative talents behind the most innovative, elegant and inspiring new yacht designs from the boards of the world’s leading yacht design studios.
“We want the best designers to join our industry and this [contest] is a way in for them since their concepts are seen by some of the best yacht designers in the world,” said Roger Lean-Vercoe, chairman of the judges.
Contact:
Teri Bond
Media Relations Director
ArtCenter College of Design
teri.bond@artcenter.edu
626 396-2385 office
310 738-2077 mobile