The future of nautical design arrives in Venice. The Master in High-End Nautical Design has been presented.
In the prestigious setting of the Venice Boat Show, among the historic architectures of the Arsenale and the timeless charm of the lagoon, the Master’s Degree in “Nautical Design for High-End Leisure” was officially presented this afternoon, developed in collaboration with the LINK University. A training project aimed at becoming a reference point for the preparation of future professionals in the superyacht and luxury boating sector.
The event, hosted within the Arsenale Tower, attracted institutions, designers, companies, and key players in the Italian nautical supply chain, once again confirming Venice’s strategic role as an international capital of design and nautical innovation.
A master’s program designed for superyacht professionals
The master will officially start on October 8, 2026, and stands out for its strongly practical approach focused on the real needs of shipyards. The core of the educational experience will be the design of a leisure vessel of about 500GT, characterized by green propulsion and designed to be barrier-free wherever possible.
The goal of the Master is to train professionals capable of combining the excellence of Made in Italy design with the most advanced engineering technologies, responding to the demand of a market increasingly oriented towards the luxury segment and cutting-edge yachting.
“We want to respond closely to the needs of shipyards by placing brilliant young people in structures that are undoubtedly among the best in the world,” emphasized Franco Gnessi, Naval Architect, General Secretary of ASPRONADI and creator of the Master.
To ensure the excellence of the program, aimed at graduates in technical, engineering, and design disciplines, a faculty composed of prominent figures from the international nautical scene will be involved, including architect Paolo Ferrari, maritime lawyer Andrea Patregnani, superyacht builder Maurizio Magri, artist and industry expert Maestro Giangi Razeto, and ISYBA President Massimo Malaspina, an expert broker in negotiations and contracts in the sector.
The entire Master will be delivered in a blended format on individual stations provided by the reference software RHINOCEROS.
The big names of Italian yachting in discussion
The presentation of the master, structured with the dynamic format of a talk-style exhibition conference, represented an important moment of discussion among some of the most authoritative personalities in the Italian nautical sector. The event, led by Fabio Legni, Advisory Board Member of Assonautica Italiana, featured the participation and direct interventions of Giovanni Acampora, President of Assonautica Italiana, Antonio Bufalari, General Secretary, Elena Magro for Assonautica Veneto, and Antonio Toffanelli representing LINK University.
During the talk, numerous experts delved into the main themes of the training program. Architect Paolo Ferrari discussed accessibility and inclusive design on board, while shipbuilder Maurizio Magri illustrated the technical complexities of building a high-end yacht. There were also contributions from Nicola Pomi, President of Volvo International, who provided technological insights from Volvo, supplier of the IPS 40 propulsion system with which the vessels subject to the master will be powered, and Massimo Malaspina, President of ISYBA, who offered a strategic vision from the brokerage perspective.
How to enroll
Enrollment for the first edition of the master is already open. Access to the course will be subject to a technical and introductory interview aimed at assessing the candidates’ skills and preparation.
Students wishing to enroll can request an appointment with the Master Office or write to segreteriapostgraduate@unilink.it.
