Exploring scenarios for ICS materials in the Yacht Design framework

The yacht market is growing with an ongoing positive trend since 2014 with motor yachts constituting the major segment. The growing size of yacht and the technological advances in material and construction techniques enable experimental design practices. As superyachts evolve into megayachts, the yacht design project is involving more and more “soft” features for higher sensory expression, moving away from the past ergonomics based on the use of space. In that framework, yacht design may also be an experimental platform for interac‐ tive, connected and smart (ICS) materials. Based on the experience of ICS Material research project, new backdrops for yacht design framework are built through focus group and card-sorting work‐ shops. The research is addressed by collecting best practices to build a framework as the starting point to exploring different scenarios. Materials experience is a key notion in considering new practices of interaction between yacht, sea and human behavior.