There’s an old adage in Hollywood that actors enjoy their craft, but what they really want to do is direct. Actually, pretty much everyone in Hollywood, from best boy to key grip, wants to direct.
All kidding aside, I think it’s fair to say that sometimes we think we can do something better than the pros. In my line of work, while there are plenty of examples of interior designs that I think are terrific, such as that of the Benetti Romanza shown here, there are times when I look at a megayacht and say to myself, “What in the world were the owner and designer thinking?” (A recent trip to Holland to comes to mind, where one yacht featured so many mirrored and polished stainless steel surfaces that I shuddered to think of how many times the crew would be wiping away fingerprints in the course of just one afternoon.)
If you’ve ever thought along similar lines, here’s your chance to become one of the pros. The Instituto Superiore di Architettura e Design (ISAD), the Italian interior-design university in Milan, is offering a workshop on yacht interiors. From May 5 to June 20, you’ll learn not just how to create an “elegant and refined” design, according to the course literature, but also what’s “appropriate in the choice of materials and in forms” and, equally important, how to ensure your design choices mesh with the functional and technical limitations of naval architecture. The workshop will incorporate both theory-based classroom lessons—some led by journalists and boatbuilders—as well as visits to shipyards and aboard yachts.
Tuition is 3,400 euros (about $5,319) plus 20 percent VAT. ISAD is offering assistance to students traveling from abroad in need of housing, whether in hotels or apartments. Further information is available on the university’s Web site.
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