Yacht Designer Profile: Marco Casali

NFTs created by Italian architect and yacht designer Marco Casali are propelling yacht design into exciting new areas.

As one of the lucky few who have had a chance to interview some of the most influential personalities in yachting—from owners and builders to designers and dreamers—I can honestly say I’ve never heard a more elegant description of what drives a person to become a yacht designer that what the Rome-based architect and yacht designer Marco Casali told me recently.

“I started drawing boats when I was 6 years old. And I never stopped.”

It’s beautiful right? He captured the essence of the joy and creativity he brings to yacht design in two simple statements.

But, he’s done more than simply “draw boats.” In fact, he only started designing boats after he earned his degree in architecture and started working on in-house design projects with Ferretti, Bertram, and CRN.

And it was only a matter of time before Casali established his own studio so he could combine his experience and expertise in luxury home design with his passion for yacht design. Since going out on his own, Casali’s firm created the striking exterior and interior design of the Itama line of power yachts for the Ferretti Group. 

His firm has also designed a long list of boats for a diverse group of builders, including Bavaria Yachts, Nix Catamarans, ZL RIBs, and others, totaling over 300 new boats and counting. Casali has also developed much larger custom projects (from 100 to 360 feet) for shipyards such as Benetti, ISA Yachts, and Fincantieri.

But, it’s his recent work with NFTs that’s really exciting him lately.

“The world is changing very, very fast,” he says. “There’s a whole new generation of people getting involved in yachting that are very different than they used to be. And I’m totally stimulated by all the creative new design opportunities this makes possible.”

“I love designing NFTs because it’s all about creativity. It’s about opening our minds to new ways of doing things. I love that we’ve sold NFTs to young people who have never even been on a boat because they are as stimulated by the possibilities as we are.”

Casali’s innovative yacht design NFTs have been in high demand since Cloud Yachts introduced the first yacht design NFTs in the world at the Miami Boat Show last year. And Casali is just one of a select list of high-profile yacht designers (including Bannenberg & Rowell) who are propelling yacht design to creative new heights.

“The possibilities are endless,” Casali says with a smile. “NFTs can be animated. They can be unique to a person. And they can be connected to a physical yacht, too. Just wait until you see what other projects we’re working on.”

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