As we await the opening of the fourth iteration of the Tigullio Design District (TDD), running from 7 to 13 April in the Tigullio Gulf, Davide Conti, founder and creative manager of the nautical design event, talks to Daily Nautica, media partner, about research, exchanges and networking carried out over the past few years, as well as the results obtained.

Tigullio Design District is turning four: how would you weigh up the results?

Yes, we are already in our fourth year, time has flown. These have been intense years… This project developed by Associazione Culturale Liguria Design, which I chair, had a stormy beginning: we were supposed to inaugurate our first event in person, but we were still under Covid restrictions, so we launched the event online, inviting designers from all over the world to participate with video speeches. This idea ended up making TDD known internationally quite quickly, attracting partners and interest from all over. In 2023, we began our in-person events, which are growing this year. And we already have so many ideas for 2026, which will mark our first 5 years. So, I would say the results are positive.

Where did the idea come from of offering a “seaside event” for the design industry, most of whom are at the Milano Design Week on the same days? And how have the event grown from iteration to iteration until now?

We looked at Italy from the outside, and listened to the foreigners, professionals, the international design community who still sees our country as leaders in design.

Nautical design, in a broad sense – infrastructure, products, lifestyle – is not represented by Milan, but for the people of Milan, the seaside has always been the Tigullio Gulf, which they visit all year round. Over the years, Milano Design Week has grown into “districts” around the city, areas which have a life of their own, offering their own events and stories, all connected to design. We want to simply become a new district for Milan, the first one on the sea: a link to give visibility to designers and Ligurian businesses within this larger event, encompassing the eastern Riviera from Genova to La Spezia.

Liguria is the best place in the world to live, invest and work. And with such an ample vision, since 2022 we have grown a lot and have lots of new ideas to continue to grow. All which will benefit the entire area, working on the TDD as a strategic marketing event, having positive effects on tourism as well.

TDD has had, from the onset, the Sea Design Award, the first international competition dedicated to the nautical industry with Daily Nautica also a part of the jury. As it is aimed at designers and students under 30, what do you think are the topics that most interest young designers today?

We are pleased to have launched this competition. We have received hundreds of designs from university students around the world: new ideas and concepts that we want to bring to the attention of the world. Of the 5 categories available – Nautical Design (yacht, superyacht, general vessels), Industrial Design (accessories and on-board instruments), Design for All (design for disabled persons in the nautical landscape), Landscape Design (design and management of coastal spaces), and Interior Design (yacht and other vessels) – participants have mostly chosen the first, yacht design, focussing mostly on sustainability, and on Design for All. These choices demonstrate how aware the new generation is.

What do you believe are the topics that are currently most pressing in the nautical field, from a design point of view?

Accessibility for everyone is certainly the greatest challenge of the future, which includes sustainability, technology and innovation. I would like to see ports that are not barriers to the cities, but connections between land and sea, a “middle ground” that can be accessed by residents and tourists. Where vessels will be sustainably equipped and easy to use, even for the disabled.

An accessible port becomes alive, in culture, and in sales, where activities can be found even for young people, and where they can learn more about the sea, water sports, and discover a world that is still considered to be for the few, and which, should be enjoyed by all, as it is important for humankind, seeing as the ocean has been a part of our history from the very beginning.

In light of your experience with recent editions, do you still believe design is a “glocal” vision, meaning to act locally with a global mentality?

Yes, absolutely! “Glocal” for me, is what it has always been, even before Tigullio Design District, a vision to keep in mind throughout your career. I always say that the Ligurian people, should remember to look at the sea more often, and not look inland, as that limits their view. We have the sea right in front of us, and that is a stimulus for new ideas, courage, like our ancestors, who took upon themselves the challenges of this infinity.

Challenges, obviously, not safe harbours…but this is what I think keeps us alive: in such a small area, if we don’t take up the challenges, we risk folding in on ourselves, as often happens. And then we “complain” about everything. Tigullio Design District is not about complaining but about embracing that which surrounds us, taking it and offering it up as a chance to meet others, to explore and to talk, not just for the Ligurians, but from anyone from anywhere wanting to come visit us, attracted by this extraordinary place in which we live and work, where we have our roots and our homes, while looking out upon the world. We are looking for cultural, human and professional exchange.

During Tigullio Design District last year, a delegation of Chinese design professionals and representatives was present, accompanied by members of the Shanghai Promotion Center for City of Design (part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Office) and the Italian Trade Commission in Shanghai. What relationships did you build?

One of the first international partners of the Tigullio Design District was China, with the Shanghai Promotion Center for City of Design – SPCCD, a government organisation for the promotion of all design in the country and around the world. I was lucky enough to live in Shanghai for 10 years, where I am still working today, travelling back and forth between Liguria and China. When I suggested Liguria as the perfect location to connect with Milano Design Week, which I love, and with the sea, they immediately took me up, offering an active partnership.

Last April we created a trait d’union between Milan, Genova and Tigullio, bringing the delegation to visit the Genova Waterfront, to see the shipyards in the eastern part of the region, and visit an exhibit on the “light” chairs made in Chiavari, which are well known around the world. The first Sino-Italian Design Forum, in Chiavari, was a networking opportunity for designers from both countries. As well as days for relaxing and enjoying delicious local cuisine.

Associazione Culturale Liguria Design has just opened, in Shanghai, a centre for nautical design, as a continuation of our partnership. We are working on maintaining and strengthening our relationship, bringing attention to each other’s areas, professionalism and experience, creating places where the surrounding beauty inspires and generates beauty, which then re-generates. Just as we announce in the theme of our fourth iteration of the Tigullio Design District: design is re-generation.

by Marcella Ottolenghi