New technologies are disrupting every sector, and the superyacht industry is no exception, but today's disruptions give the incumbents a new opportunity to demonstrate thought leadership and change the industry's narrati
Book direct with Matthew’s team: we reply within one working day.
Matthew GriffinFounder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
G7 · G20governments advised
850+keynotes
102countries
17codexes
Mobility and logistics sessions forAutoalan KeskusliittoSlovakiaTechLondon Borough of HounslowWISTA InternationalCorporate World IntelligenceManagement Events
Featured inBloombergThe Wall Street JournalThe Telegraph
About this keynote
Firstly, it was a pleasure and an honour to be invited, for the second year in a row now, to be the keynote speaker at this year’s SuperYachtNews Future of Superyacht Design summit held at the beautiful Chelsea Harbour in London where brokers, operators and owners mingled with one another to discuss the latest innovations in superyacht design and sustainability. And, as you can see from the photos and post event article, we had plenty to discuss.
Like any industry the superyacht industry isn’t immune from change or disruption, and just like every other sector it too can significantly benefit from the multitude of technology breakthroughs that are taking place all around them. As a result, and with both eyes firmly focused on sustainability, I walked the audience through the multitude of innovations that will transform the sector from top to bottom, and have significant implications for the superyachts entire lifecycle.
Whether it’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) based Creative Machines designing superyachts by themselves, or hand in hand with human designers, the emergence of new materials that allow us to customise the interior and exterior of superyachts in new ways and 3D print hulls and superstructures on demand, or the emergence of zero emission superyachts.
During the presentation I also discussed the future of entertainment, and a world that could be dominated by holodecks, and not just quirky virtual reality worlds that you can navigate using just your mind, as well as how researchers are breaking down barriers to create the blackest games rooms using nanotech, and new types of flexible and transparent displays whose content can be streamed directly to the brains of the people watching it, or vice versa, personalised sound, smart avatars and assistants, with the emphasis on smart, and much more. And if there’s only one thing we know for sure it’s that everything is changing, and many of those changes are going to make many of the so called toys that the super rich buy today look lame by comparison.
The session pointed to creative machines that design superyachts alone or with human designers. This is a Prepare item with wide use expected by 2028. Leadership teams should decide now where human judgement stays in the loop.
Materials could change how yachts are built.
New materials may let owners customise interiors and exteriors, and allow hulls and superstructures to be 3D printed on demand. Wide use of 3D printed materials is expected by 2040, though the technology has had a first product since 1988. Builders should plan for slow but steady change.
Entertainment is the next field of competition.
The keynote described holodecks, flexible displays and personalised sound as the future of onboard leisure. Holodecks sit at technology readiness level 3, with wide use expected by 2050. Treat them as a long view, while flexible displays and personalised sound are closer.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
Which design decisions would we hand to creative machines first?
How would on-demand printed hulls change our supply chain and lead times?
Which onboard experiences could make our current offer look dated?
The trends and technologies behind this session
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
What does this session mean for organisations in luxury and design?
It suggests change will reach every stage of a vessel's life, from design to build to onboard experience. With sustainability in focus, organisations need a view of which shifts to act on and which to watch.
How do creative machines relate to superyacht design?
Creative machines are a Prepare trend, with wide use expected by 2028. In the keynote they could design superyachts by themselves or hand in hand with human designers.
How do 3D printed materials relate to superyacht design?
The keynote raised the prospect of 3D printing hulls and superstructures on demand. The technology is at readiness level 9, with wide use expected by 2040, so the pace will depend on adoption rather than invention.
How can 311 brief our leadership team on this?
311 offers a private executive briefing or leadership workshop, tailored to your sector and delivered in person first.
Bring this to your leadership teamA private executive briefing or leadership workshop, tailored to your sector. In person first, anywhere in the world.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s session and 311 data.
If Matthew gave this session today
Whole industries may soon be disrupted in a day.
The codex sets out the forces accelerating global disruption and how close we are to disrupting whole industries in a day, the same forces that could flatten or eliminate today's supply chains.
