SYD Week Speaker Spotlight: Martin Francis
SYD talks to Martin Francis, the mind behind M/Y Enigma (ex. Eco) and technical expert on M/Y A, as a part of a our series of Q&As with the speakers of June's SuperyachtDESIGN Week.…
Martin Francis is one of those designers who has put his name to an impressive array of projects across various design disciplines. Trained at the Central St Martins College of Art and Design before working as a cabinet maker and then working with acclaimed architect Norman Foster, Francis started designing yachts in 1988. The creative design force behind Senses and Enigma (ex. Eco), as well as the technical expert for the 118m M/Y A with Phillip Starck, Francis is also working with Silver Arrows Marine and Mercedes-Benz Style to design and build a futuristic 14m yacht. He will be joining a panel of designers at June's SuperyachtDESIGN Week who will be discussing the sensitive issue of plagiarism in a Design Question Time session called 'Plagiarism vs. Individualism: The Future'. SuperyachtDesign caught up with the designer ahead of June's event.
SYD: How did you get into superyacht design?
Martin Francis: By accident like many of my peer group, I designed and built a 46ft aluminium sail boat with the idea of sailing round the world. I launched the boat as an empty hull to see if it worked and, because it was empty and light, it went very fast. As a result I got several commissions for what were at the time, 1980, the largest sloops in the world, 92 feet. and thus a new career started.
SYD: What is the most challenging superyacht project that you have worked on?
MF: It has to be Eco, which then became Katana, and is now Enigma. It was my first motoryacht, 73m long with gas turbine propulsion, I was responsible for the design, project management and supervision. It is as far as I know, still the fastest large yacht afloat, she still can do 36 knots 22 years after she was first launched in 1991.
SYD: What makes this industry so exciting to work in?
MF: Clients who are prepared to build yachts like Eco and A, who are prepared to push the envelope. Look at the latest Lurssen Azzam at 180 meters or Ed Dubois 100 metre sloop project. We are all incredibly lucky to have the opportunity of working for the modern equivalent of the Medici’s.
SYD: You will be on the panel for a Designer Question Time at SuperyachtDESIGN Week called ‘Plagiarism vs Individualism: The Future’. At one point does inspiration cross over into plagiarism in terms of yacht design?
MF: As far as I’m concerned one must dissociate Plagiarism from Inspiration or Influence. For me, inspiration comes from the sum of my experience as a designer working on a wide range of projects during the course of which I have of course been influenced by many people and objects. To answer your question: At one point does inspiration become plagiarism in terms of yacht design? The answer is no, they are incompatible, if copying is involved then there is no inspiration.
SYD: Why are events like SuperyachtDESIGN Week important?
MF: They enable designers to get together and share their ideas, concerns and passion with a wider audience. Hopefully they give future clients some insight into the pleasure that can be had from the process of creating a unique vessel with an enlightened team.
The Design Question Time session entitled Plagiarism vs Individualism: The Future will take place on Tuesday 18 June 2013 at 12:00 to 12:45 at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour. To learn more about SuperyachtDESIGN Week, the programme and register to attend, visit the SuperyachtDESIGN Week website here. You can keep up to date with the event, speakers and share your thoughts on Twitter using #SYDWeek.
SYD: How did you get into superyacht design?
Martin Francis: By accident like many of my peer group, I designed and built a 46ft aluminium sail boat with the idea of sailing round the world. I launched the boat as an empty hull to see if it worked and, because it was empty and light, it went very fast. As a result I got several commissions for what were at the time, 1980, the largest sloops in the world, 92 feet. and thus a new career started.
SYD: What is the most challenging superyacht project that you have worked on?
MF: It has to be Eco, which then became Katana, and is now Enigma. It was my first motoryacht, 73m long with gas turbine propulsion, I was responsible for the design, project management and supervision. It is as far as I know, still the fastest large yacht afloat, she still can do 36 knots 22 years after she was first launched in 1991.
SYD: What makes this industry so exciting to work in?
MF: Clients who are prepared to build yachts like Eco and A, who are prepared to push the envelope. Look at the latest Lurssen Azzam at 180 meters or Ed Dubois 100 metre sloop project. We are all incredibly lucky to have the opportunity of working for the modern equivalent of the Medici’s.
SYD: You will be on the panel for a Designer Question Time at SuperyachtDESIGN Week called ‘Plagiarism vs Individualism: The Future’. At one point does inspiration cross over into plagiarism in terms of yacht design?
MF: As far as I’m concerned one must dissociate Plagiarism from Inspiration or Influence. For me, inspiration comes from the sum of my experience as a designer working on a wide range of projects during the course of which I have of course been influenced by many people and objects. To answer your question: At one point does inspiration become plagiarism in terms of yacht design? The answer is no, they are incompatible, if copying is involved then there is no inspiration.
SYD: Why are events like SuperyachtDESIGN Week important?
MF: They enable designers to get together and share their ideas, concerns and passion with a wider audience. Hopefully they give future clients some insight into the pleasure that can be had from the process of creating a unique vessel with an enlightened team.
The Design Question Time session entitled Plagiarism vs Individualism: The Future will take place on Tuesday 18 June 2013 at 12:00 to 12:45 at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour. To learn more about SuperyachtDESIGN Week, the programme and register to attend, visit the SuperyachtDESIGN Week website here. You can keep up to date with the event, speakers and share your thoughts on Twitter using #SYDWeek.
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