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Sterling currency: the beauty of design

2011-09-21 16:06

As well as being a spectacular annual event, the Monaco Yacht Show provides a great opportunity for leaders in the yachting business to get together and discuss the state of the industry, current designs, regulations and new and evolving ideas and concepts.

One regular attender will be Diana Scott, head designer at Monaco-based Sterling/Scott, who has enjoyed a fifteen year career in the yachting world and is now one of the most highly respected international yacht designers. Some of her accomplishments include the new build Red Square and the beautiful refit of Reborn. She is currently putting the finishing design touches to a project involving one of the world's largest megayachts.


^{Reborn... re-born thanks to Sterling/Scott}

Inspired in early childhood, Diana remembers watching with curiosity as her father passionately designed and built various forms of boats over the years. Her own career began at the age of 17, studying various designs and completing various studies and courses in design as well as naval architecture, engineering and interior design.

Whilst studying at design school, she started work at Oceanfast in Australia - watching the late Jon Bannenberg, probably the most renowned yacht designer, work his magic - before later taking up a position with Feadship in Amsterdam. As a yacht designer and stylist for the past ten of her 15 years in the industry, Diana has amassed a number of key awards. Her company Sterling/Scott and her design studio are now based in Monaco, where they specialize in new yacht design as well as refits of existing yachts.

We asked Diana to tell us more about her work

"As head yacht designer at Sterling/Scott I work together with other experts, but I have primary control over each design, which gives me the freedom to work without the pressure of outside influences, with the exception of the client, of course! Paying close attention to the wishes and ideas provided by the client is crucial: much as creating a beautiful yacht is a personal passion, it's also important to create one that fits the client's requirements, dreams and inspirations - as well as meeting all the various regulations. This combination is the part of the challenge that I truly enjoy.

"The whole process of building or refitting a yacht starts with the design. At Sterling/Scott we work closely with leading naval architects as well as various highly-accomplished interior designers to provide a full in-house design service for each yacht.

"However, exterior styling is what we really specialize in. We always find that clients have many different tastes and ideas with respect to the finished interiors so it's important to provide them with the best match of exterior design and styling, interior design and styling and naval architecture to suit their needs and tastes. Everything should flow naturally from the exterior styling.  
 
"Often several concepts are produced. It's a process whereby clients learn and live through the project phase one step at a time until they see exactly what they want. Next comes the layout, based on highly detailed architectural drawings which can later be used for the interior design; then pricing, and eventually the construction process. We also work together with many of the leading yacht brokerage firms on their projects, usually from the very beginning of the conceptual stage."

Diana's latest project is the 72 metre Red Square, currently under construction at the Dunya shipyard in Turkey. Their largest ever build, this magnificent megayacht will be powered by dual 3,150hp Caterpillar diesel engines, delivering a maximum speed of 17 knots and cruising at around 14, with a range of 4,200 nautical miles. The sumptuous interiors, by Alberto Pinto, perfectly complement the sleek lines of Diana Scott's design: