Cipriani: “A record-breaking DAME, and Italian companies performed well — but they could do more”
AMSTERDAM – At the latest METS, PressMare interviewed Davide Cipriani, designer, CEO of the Bologna-based Centrostiledesign and the only Italian member of the twelve-expert jury of the DAME Design Awards, an increasingly prestigious prize that this year registered a record number of entries, with 146 applications leading to 67 nominations.
PressMare: The DAME is one of the most prominent awards in the marine industry. You are the only Italian juror, and this year’s edition saw an exceptionally high number of entries. How did it go?
Davide Cipriani: The DAME remains one of the most prestigious awards in the international marine industry. This year it was particularly full of new, very well-executed products. With such a broad field, evaluating each product within its own logic was not easy — especially when judging complex objects such as electronic devices or any highly advanced technological equipment. Being part of the DAME jury is always an interesting experience, both professionally and personally, because it helps understand and anticipate many of the trends that are shaping the boating sector.
PM - From a designer’s perspective, did anything stand out in terms of new trends?
DC - In design it’s always complicated, because the best-designed products are usually the simplest and therefore less “technological”. There is an ongoing tension between well-designed items and technologically advanced ones, and the goal is always to find a good balance. I think this year’s winner is a good example, with a strong integration between technology and exterior design — something we particularly appreciate. It reflects the current trend: technology increasingly prevails over pure function and aesthetics. Hopefully, in the coming years, we’ll also see more aesthetic evolution in those devices that today remain very technical.
PM - In the past you noted that Italian companies were not strongly represented at the DAME. Was it different this year?
DC - There were more Italian companies than usual, but I still think the major players are not participating as much as they could. With our products, we could make a significant difference. Often suppliers don’t realise they can enter the award, even together with the shipyard, or they decide not to because the product planned for METS is not fully ready. Yet the DAME is an important market benchmark — a quality seal that companies could leverage much better in commercial and marketing terms.
PM - Some have criticised the 2025 DAME products for lacking ‘pure’ design content. Do you agree?
DC - This goes back to what I said: the criteria include technology, innovation, aesthetics, green performance and sustainability. These combined requirements sometimes prevent a product from being as iconic as we would like. Perhaps a dedicated category could be created to highlight products mainly for their aesthetic qualities. Today design is somewhat “hybridised” among many other necessary specifications.
PM - Let’s talk about Centrostiledesign: how is the year closing?
DC - 2025 has been fantastic for us, even though the market is different from the boom years. We’ve grown and we’re satisfied. But we must pay attention to what will happen over the next six to twelve months, because major companies we work with are undergoing internal adjustments — some already visible.
PM - Who are your main clients?
DC - Three in particular: Azimut, Navico-Brunswick and Sunseeker. We work continuously with these brands, and this definitely brings value.
PM - How much does the marine sector represent in your business?
DC - In yachting we cover pure design, engineering, FEM analysis, models and moulds. Centrostiledesign is strongly focused on the marine sector, even if we have opened a new residential division for interior and exterior design. We also work on earth-moving machinery and agricultural equipment. Overall, yachting accounts for 90% of our business.
PM - This year Centrostiledesign celebrates an important anniversary, correct?
DC - Yes. The company started in 1990, so we are celebrating 35 years. For the first twenty years it was a family-run business, then in 2000 it came under my control. In 2001 we launched Centrostiledesign, which absorbed Studio Ti, my father’s original company. We’ve been in yachting for twenty-five years, and this has certainly strengthened our brand reputation.
PM - What are your medium-long term prospects? Will you expand to other sectors or remain focused on high-end shipbuilding?
DC - We are among the world’s leading companies offering an integrated design-and-engineering service. The marine market is cyclical; in 25 years we’ve seen its peaks and troughs. It’s an emotional sector, where buying decisions can fluctuate. But engineering is more crucial than ever: during slowdowns, shipyards look for competitive partners who can help control costs. Outsourcing to companies like ours is more efficient than maintaining huge in-house technical departments that become underused during market pauses. No designer today can work without an engineering-driven approach, because products are far more complex than in the past.
PM - A final snapshot of Centrostiledesign today?
DC - We are 40 motivated people, aged between 25 and 50. A young, dynamic company. We have a models-and-moulds division with 20 people, and the remaining staff works in the technical office: design, engineering, CFD analysis, FEM, certification and manuals.
Riccardo Masnata
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