Specializing master in Yacht Design

The Specializing Master to become experts in the design of boats for the pleasure boating sector.

The Specializing Master in Yacht Design of the Politecnico di Milano collects and consolidates opportunities and resources developed by the University, with particular reference to skills in the fields of industrial design, fluid dynamics, mechanics, materials science; on the other hand it uses resources, experience and expertise acquired at a number of other Italian universities including: University "Federico II" of Naples, University of Catania and University of Chieti.

The Politecnico di Milano Design School offers this Specializing Master jointly with POLI.design, founded by Politecnico di Milano.  The program was founded to meet the strong demand for training in the pleasure-cratf segment.  The yacht's market requires professionals with specialist post-university training.

Didactic Plan
A ship, whether sailing boat or motoryacht, is a complex product that integrates several systems for propulsion, living quarters, and various accessory functions. Every decision about one of the technical systems (hull, appendages, interior layout, propulsion, onboard equipment) also affects all the others. A yacht, whether made series or as one-off, calls for many different construction techniques and a variety of materials. Its interior will reflect design language and fashion, while market competition tends to imbue every ship with a certain amount of innovation.

The Specializing Master takes this complexity into account and intersperses classroom experience – nine learning modules that outline different disciplinary fields – with design exercises and visits to shipyards and companies active in the industry, as well as to applied research institutes. The principles of each field are explained and students acquire the skills to apply what they have learned in their designs. Their various special abilities are brought together in workgroups that are called upon to develop a series of work projects.

 

The course program consists of eight learning modules, plus a design workshop and the internship:

Yacht Design: principles, methods, tools and rules of boat design;
Design and representation, acquisition of manual and computer tools representing the project; acquisition of specific skills on dedicated software;
Naval Architecture, acquisition of the skills needed to manage, during the design stage, know-how relating to: hull geometry, boat statics, resistance to motion, hydrodynamics, hydraulic modelling, fluid dynamics and aero dynamics, turbulence modelling;
Shipbuilding, knowledge of the main construction methods, of the properties and characteristics of the materials used in the boats. Understanding and ability to identify innovations with regard to: material technologies and sciences, construction technique;
On-board Systems and Propulsion Equipment, ability to understand the issues related to environmental management and acquisition of criteria for the choice of: motor and sail propulsion equipment, steering and monitoring equipment, equipment and fittings for deck, systems and on-board instruments;
Interior Design, acquisition of design skills with strong focus on expressiveness with regard to: distribution of space and functional organisation, historic evolution of interior design methods, quality of finishing materials, methods of mock-up for monitoring choices;
Production process and corporate organisation, methods and technologies of production of different boat elements and components: organization of production process;
Empowerment, during the structuring of the educational programme an empowerment module will be developed, to train participants on the rationale and dynamics of change at the organisational and personal level, teamwork, relational dynamics and entry in the job market;
Design workshop, integrated design exercise on topics identified during class.
Exercises
The Specializing Master integrates a variety of learning modules: metaproject analysis, defining the concept, and design exercises carried out in small groups as prerequisites to the planning workshops. The workshops offer a chance to try out the skills acquired during the learning modules, classroom exercises, and trips outside the classroom. The workshops are an essential part of the training process, which also includes visits to research organizations, production facilities, and professional studios.

Internship
The internship is required, lasts three months, and is carried out at leading design studios and shipyards. It enables students to transfer skills acquired during the course to a real-life design or production context and to deal with the world of shipbuilding.


 

Requirements
The Specializing Master is completely in English: preference will be given to candidates with a good knowledge of English.
The Specializing Master in Yacht Design is open to applicants who have a university degree (Laurea, equivalent to a Bachelor of Science) under the old or the new educational system or a Laurea Magistrale (equivalent to a Master of Science) under the new educational system in Architecture, Engineering and Industrial Design, and in related economic disciplines, and to applicants with equivalent qualifications.
The Board shall admit applicants who have qualifications in disciplines other than those specified above, if the Master may complete the training of the applicant or the professional skills and experience shown by same.