Executive Interior Yacht Design

Course

The decades-long experience of the Specializing Master’s Degree Course in Yacht Design at the Politecnico di Milano has led to the creation of the new postgraduate course in Executive Interior Yacht Design dedicated to professionals and young graduates who intend to deepen their knowledge of nautical and naval outfitting with a focus on the Italian yacht and superyacht market. The course responds to the request of numerous nautical subcontracting companies and design studios, which in recent years have been looking for specialised figures in executive design to support the great growth that the Italian shipbuilding industry has been experiencing for the past five years.

The Executive Interior Yacht Design course at the Politecnico di Milano provides the tools to manage the design and construction process of naval and nautical interiors, from the project brief to the definition of the general plans and executive details of interior fittings, thanks to the integrated management of interior and exterior design languages, materials and on-board fitting techniques, aspects of ergonomics, naval engineering and construction techniques, and plant equipment. The course is aimed at graduates in architecture and interior design as well as professionals in the furniture sector, thanks to didactics designed to adapt to the needs of professionals, freelance designers and recent graduates.

The course is aimed at graduates in architecture and interior design and professionals in the furniture sector, thanks to teaching designed to adapt to the needs of professionals, freelance designers, and recent graduates.

Some numbers

Didactics

Training objectives

The course is aimed at interior design and architecture professionals who want to delve into all aspects of interior design for yachts (motor yachts and superyachts) and cruise ships with a special focus on materials and techniques for outfitting and shipbuilding. The subject of study and design will be the general plans of yachts as well as the layout of interior spaces and customised furnishing elements.

Participation in the Advanced Course offers the achievement of the following training goals:

• Design development (ability to work in terms of problem setting and problem solving for the definition of boat and cruise ship interiors from concept to detailed design);
• Development of specialised technical skills for the design of on-board spaces and customised furniture solutions;
• Acquisition of the principles, procedures, methods and techniques for fitting out naval and nautical interiors;
• Development of skills related to the executive definition of interiors in both 3D and 2D drafting for production management and fit-out supply;
• Development of skills related to site organisation for fit-out and decor phases;
• Development of the ability to work in a team and to present oneself authoritatively in the world of professions;
• Ability to manage team conflicts and to foster creativity processes.

Didactic Modules

Naval architecture, construction, and nautical installations: the module provides the tools to understand the different hull shapes and the relationship with performance in navigation and the liveability of on-board spaces, and to know how to design fittings for vessels with different structural morphologies. In addition, the module will provide the knowledge to understand the technical spaces dedicated to on-board systems impacting on the living space layout and the aesthetics of furnishing finishes, as well as the management of lighting and air-conditioning aspects.

Naval and nautical interior design: knowing how to design a nautical outfitting from its general plans to the detail of the furniture finishes is the central theme of this module, which will accompany participants in project-works dedicated to the realisation of interior and exterior outfitting concepts, on-board ergonomics, and the technical design of cabins and common areas.
Technical executive drawing: the module provides the tools to manage the drafting of furniture executive projects, from the design of the executive layout in 3D to 2D drawing for production and subcontracting. The module will include both theoretical lessons and an approach to parametric 3D software for the design of site executives, thanks to exercises guided by professionals of the sector.

Technology for the preparation of naval and nautical interiors: through case study lectures, visits to subcontracting production plants and visits on board yachts under construction, the module will guide course participants in the understanding of naval and nautical outfitting techniques with a focus on the theme of ballasting, materials and techniques for interior and exterior fittings on board, new technologies for the sensory expression of materials and furnishing finishes, and accessories dedicated to nautical outfitting.

Internship: the course is completed by an internship in Italian shipbuilding and subcontracting companies, such as yacht design and interior design studios dedicated to the naval sector, shipyards, and companies producing furniture and accessories for the nautical sector.

Title Released

At the end of the Course, a Certificate of Participation in the Executive Interior Yacht Design Advanced Training Course will be awarded, with the related achievement of 30 CFU.

Employment Opportunities

The Italian nautical and naval sector is constantly growing and has seen an increasingly critical demand in recent years for specialised figures in the executive design of on-board fittings, whether for interiors or outdoor spaces.

In addition, subcontracting and accessory and outfitting companies are at the heart of the international industry in which Italy leads the sector with more than 70 per cent of boats over 30 metres produced worldwide.

Candidates attending the advanced course will find employment opportunities in nautical and naval interior design studios or in shipyards and companies in the nautical industry for customised interior and exterior fittings. Possible areas of professional involvement are: concept design, styling, decor, and product customisation; engineering; interior design; project and process management; production control and quality control during fitting out, finishing and delivery.

Admission

Requirements

The advanced course is open to candidates with a degree or Master’s/Specialist degree or First or Second Level Academic Diploma in Architecture, Engineering, Industrial Design. The commission reserves the right to admit candidates in possession of the above-mentioned qualifications in disciplines other than those specified above, should the master’s degree be a completion of the candidate’s training or professional skills and experience.

Admission to the Course is subject to passing a technical-motivational interview on site or via Skype to assess the candidate’s curriculum vitae and motivation.

Deadlines

To participate in the selections, please complete the online application form by the following deadline: September 1, 2025

Price

The course costs €7,500
• € 100,00 – registration fee to Politecnico di Milano,
• € 7.400,00 – participation fee.

PROMO

EARLY BIRD -10% (n.6)
The promotion for those who have clear ideas, know which educational path can enrich their future, and can’t wait to get back to the classroom.

Deadline application: within May 16, 2025
Deadline for sending the signed contract and payment of the deposit of the participation fee: within May 30, 2025

FAMILY SUPPORT: -50%
A chance to gift your siblings the encouragement they need to invest in their future.

POLI.NETWORK: -50%
A promotion designed to strengthen the bond and identity among members of the Politecnico di Milano community.

BUSINESS BOOST
The discount designed for companies that recognize training as a crucial factor for growth.

The “Business Boost” discount provides a variable reduction on the participation fee for two or more employees in catalog courses. Specifically, the discount amounts to:

• 15% on the participation fee for the second employee’s enrollment
• 20% on the participation fee for the third employee’s enrollment
• 25% on the participation fee from the fourth employee’s enrollment onwards

Furthermore, companies that purchase more than one Course for two or more employees in the same calendar year can access an additional 10% discount on the total.

Faculty

Partners

Past editions