Yacht Design In Progress

There are always discussions between designers about how to illustrate design in a ‘proper’ way. Some people say it has to remain sketchy when proposing to a client in order not to give the impression that the design has already been decided for him. Then of course there are those who say ‘the client doesn’t understand things like we designers do’. Others say that there is no way around 3D computer-illustrations, preferably animated walk-throughs and fly-arounds.

So, where’s the truth? Nothing is worse than a sloppy doodle presented as a thought-through design. Equally worse is a shot in the wrong direction with a shiny awe-inspiring 3D rendering.

At coquine![design] we are aware of the whole problematic of the topic. Illustrations, like plans, are made to communicate ideas and proposals. Depending to who you communicate (client, yard, design colleague) and at what part of the progress you carefully have to choose the right way. You also have to be aware of the pictures just being the tool to transport your design. A brilliant illustration might cover up a weak idea at the moment of presentation, but mistakes made will surface later.

And one more thing: Our designers don’t see themselves as artists, yet there is of course a certain artistic height in design. We want our thoughts as well presented as we feel our ideas deserve it. We put our heart into the design, so we feel it’s only fair that this heart is recognisable in the brush stroke as well.

That doesn’t mean that coquine![design] is closing its eyes to the modern techniques that computer rendering can deliver (especially as working with the computer does make things easier further down the progress) But the way of illustration should always be as full of life as our way of design will be.

This is especially important as we see our clients as members of the team: We invite them to take part in the progress of carving his dream out of blue air and we like to take them on a wonderful journey guided by plans and sketches and drawings like following old pirates’ treasure maps. We believe that this progress should be as much fun as owning that yacht later.