156 FEATURE When creating the interiors of a passenger ship, a designer faces a unique challenge. Each space they create onboard needs to appeal to a broad range of guests from different demographics and with different expectations, and then continue to do so for as long as possible over the ship’s operating life without an expensive refurbishment being required. As they look to meet this challenge, designers must therefore ask themselves a question: should they follow the latest trends to create a design that makes a big impact upon delivery, or should they take a more timeless approach to produce a space with greater longevity? For many, the choice is increasingly clear. “While there remains a place for innovation and new ideas, astute shipowners are increasingly demanding interiors that offer a longer-term return on investment,” says Alan McVitty, design director of Key Interiors and Designs. “As a result, they are now favouring timeless elegance over transient trends, guided by formal design principles and culturally informed practitioners. This approach ensures that spaces are not only stylish but also enduring and durable.” But what defines a timeless interior design? My Nguyen, design director for Holland America Line and Seabourn Cruises, provides one explanation. “I define timeless design as an experience where you walk into a space and there is no association to an era in time, but rather a feeling of comfort and calm,” she says. “When you come back to that space later, it still feels as fresh as when you were last there. The opposite of timeless design is when you walk into a space, and you think ‘this is trendy now, but I’ll be tired of it soon’.” Creating that sense of timelessness requires designers to balance shape, colour and texture, according to Nguyen. There should also be an element of personal style. “Textures and colours that relate to nature are timeless because these elements have a direct link to human experiences,” she says. “I also reflect on what I personally think of as timeless, such as Danish furniture from the 1950s and 1960s, or denim in fashion. The commonalities between these products are that they are good quality, comfortable, and texturally appealing regardless of Passenger ship owners are demanding longer-lasting interiors. Alex Smith asks designers how they create spaces that will stand the test of time Timeless design Cunard’s Golden Lion pub is decorated with banquette seating, brass finishes and artwork displaying a contemporary take on British culture Photo: Cunard
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