134 Enrico C cruise ship, and the Prince of Monaco’s Stalca II sailing yacht in the first half of the 1980s. The matrix of yacht design has marked all of my ship design work since, leading me to always seek to create elegant vessels with superior details and personality. Can you please summarise the significant design trends that have influenced your work over the past 30 years? During the 1980s, many architects were influenced by the postmodernism movement, which emerged as rejection of the modernism and European rationalism that had been dominant for almost 50 years. Although the postmodernism movement, which continued growing until the mid-1990s, gave rise to some remarkable examples of architecture, it also unfortunately brought with it the old, heavy baggage of revivalism. This had negatively impacted the way designers approached interior design for both cruise ships and land-based projects. A few key companies, mainly based in the USA, dominated the cruise interior design industry during this period and there was a questionable rise in ‘Las Vegas style’ and kitsch onboard many ships. However, our studio refused to chase conformism and fleeting trends when designing cruise ships, and instead we became renowned for creating designs that prioritised elegance and pure Italian style. The 2000s marked the return of functionalism, with designers and architects placing more emphasis on creating pure designs that stand the test of time and deliver positive sensorial experiences for guests. We’re proud to have been the first design studio to lead the way for the return of contemporary interior design on cruise ships all the way back in the 1990s. How has the type of design brief you receive from cruise lines evolved throughout your career? We’ve seen several changes over the past 30 years. For example, ships are now bigger, and many different types of cruise experience have emerged, with brands offering everything from ultra-luxury to contemporary, expedition and familyoriented vessels. In addition, brands are now targeting the global market, hoping to attract international guests and individuals in specific socioeconomic brackets. Today’s guests also have diverse expectations, so cruise brands must find ways to offer multiple types of entertainment, food and beverage options and other onboard services to ensure they can satisfy all the guests sailing onboard one ship. Design preferences have continued to change too, with ship interiors being increasingly inspired by land-based architecture and design. “ The best sources of design inspiration are different cultures and all forms of art” DESIGN LEGEND The Fil Rouge restaurant onboard Explora Journeys’ Explora I was designed by the De Jorio team
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