In Profile:
SABDES Design

Name: Scott Blee
Company Name: SABDES Yacht Design
Position Within Company: Owner Designer
Website: www.sabdes.com

Tell us a little about your background in the sector:
My career has now spanned over 25 years experience in both Naval Architecture and as an Industrial Designer on;
-Naval Ships (Frigates, Patrol Vessels, Stealth concepts etc.),
-Commercial Vessels (Fast Ferries, Cruise Vessel, Crew Supply etc.)
-Superyachts (currently 20+ boats built 15-45metres)(concepts up to 145m)
-Boats and luxury houseboats
The bulk of my work has been in the Yachting sector now, with a slight emphasis toward Explorers, and being able to draw experience from all sectors has given a broad reach of ideas, and not set in any one particular style.

How would you describe your design ethos?
Our guiding design ethos is to create an elegance and purity of line, always within the scope of creating functional, connected and innovative design. We work in a collaborative and enjoyable manner. We want to produce great design, and believe only by working together with different teams and listening to others ideas, do great ideas form and spark together, and then magic can happen.

Where does your design inspiration come from?
Everything man made or in nature offers inspiration. Product design is fascinating. I can give one example; In a magazine I was looking through recently, the shape of a Li-ion battery looked very nice to me; the way the corners were chamfered, and filleted edges were merged wit it. I took inspiration from some of this detail and later on applied a similar idea to a large commercial concept project I worked on.

In what direction do you feel that design is moving towards in a general sense?
Design is changing very fast, what is cool and innovative today, can be old ideas within three to five years. The new younger generation of owners are coming online, and they’re imagination is unlimited due in part to the AI revolution.

Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in the future.
Efficiency. Environmental. Transformable. Exploration. Luxury. Clever (sorry that’s six)

If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to designing, what would it be?
Dig deep into your imagination and trust in it.

If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to designing, what would it be?
Dig deep into your imagination and trust in it.

How important are The International Yacht & Aviation Awards?
Just being Shortlisted into IYAA is a great honour in itself, and provides top visibility to industry, and owners alike. IYAA is recognised as the best design awards where winners are chosen by the public who appreciate design and innovation. To be a part of this is exciting and rewarding. We have been in it once before with a 145 metre concept Yacht, but this time around it’s different as we have an in-build project, so we know the Builder is also thrilled to be a part of it, so were both able to seize the day!

What projects are you currently working on?
A large efficient sports boat but one with great utility; it’s a ‘Superyacht’ and one which will make the industry take notice of new ideas for what an efficient, eco responsible yacht can be, yet still offer great accommodations and luxury and indoor/outdoor living. The design is not set at a particular LOA as yet, but is forming from the the parameters we’ve set, so it may end up somewhere between 40metres and 60 metres LOA.

What was your favourite project to work on and why?
The new Catamaran designs for Bering, both BC60 and BC80. These are designs that are creating a new class of Catamaran. The Explorer Catamaran offers totally new ways to re think exterior style and create exceptional spaces for living. We’ve been innovative in our architecture development; there are subtle changes from the production fibreglass catamarans you see everywhere, but we made huge gains with the changes, both in headroom, and internal space.

What was your most challenging project to work on and why?
A 50metre design produced in collaboration with two very famous companies in both NL and UK. Having the great pleasure to travel, live and work with some super minded designers! It was Challenging as the design had to fit within a very famous product line, but at the same time push the boundaries in <500 GT design. I’m still waiting for a customer to come along and for that design to be produced.

Which products/services could you not live without when designing? E.g. Lighting companies, furniture companies
Naval Architects and Interior Designers, and a good graphics guru or two.

What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?
I’m developing some bold new concept work, working with a few of the famous Northern European builders. Stay tuned.

Your most treasured possession?
My collection of ancient Superyacht design magazines

Your favourite holiday destination?
The Maldives

Your favourite hotel, restaurant & bar?
Hotel: Hotel Le Saint Paul
Restaurant: Old Wharf Restaurant
Bar: Union Electric Bar and Rooftop

Your favourite book, film & song?
Book: Astrophysics for people in a hurry
Film: Happy Gilmore
Song: Its a long way to the top (if you want to rock and roll)

Your favourite food and drink?
Food: A nice bag of chips
Drink: A good beer or two

Your favourite way to spend an afternoon?
Out on my Fjord motorboat cruising somewhere is always fun, in fact doing anything on the water makes a good time. I once lived on a 47 foot ex-Tugboat that I converted into a very comfortable live aboard; That helped give me a good sense of ergonomics, maximising small spaces, and finding neat storage solutions. I’ve also a design which is in production, of a very modern rowing skiff, so I get out on the bay or lakes often, and it’s great for fitness.

If you weren’t in this sector, what would you alternative profession be?
If I couldn’t be in the Yacht Design sector, then one alternative profession could have been a professional racing driver; I actually started car racing around the time I started yacht design studies, when I was relatively young, but my career took off more easily in yacht design. And now i’ve passed by that age group where i’d be selected by a team like Red Bull or McLaren ;-( However I do currently race an open wheeler race car in Australia, in Formula 3 class (driving a Reynard 923) so there is still plenty of fun happening, and i’m available for any opportunities, as a driver at the Monaco Historics for example! Also I guess I can be considered to be one of the faster Superyacht Designers in the industry.
Alternatively another profession i’d consider, is being an Astrophysicist, but only if I could specialise in space craft design.

Anything else interesting?
I once had an opportunity to meet up with Jon Bannenberg at his London studio. He was a great inspiration for bringing me into this industry. I was working in a Design office in Melbourne at the time. Unfortunately the timing for travel didn’t work out. Now i’d tell my younger self to drop everything and go!

Exterior Designer: SABDES Design

Naval Architect: Bering Yachts

Interior Designer: Bering Yachts

Shipyard: Bering Yachts