Interviews
Interview With Yacht Designer Julien Cadro: A Future With Sophisticated Eco Yachts
Meet Julien Cadro, a young French yacht designer that first came to our attention with his Avatar looking “Ecoo” superyacht concept submitted to the Rossinavi Design Challenge.
A recently graduated design student, Julien holds a Masters in Transportation Design and had the opportunity to intern with Sarrazin Design, working on projects for yacht builders Bénéteau and Jeanneau and also completed an internship at Alps Design Lab, working for Archamps Technopole on the implementation of an autonomous vehicle service throughout Geneva.
I took the opportunity to ask Julien Cadro a few questions to get to know him better and understand a little more about his design history and his thoughts regarding yacht design and life in general.
BRENON
What is your story? Why did you choose design and specifically yacht design?
JULIEN
I decided to study design because I always loved beautiful objects and I was fascinated by people who can create something from a white paper to a final object. I grew up next to the ocean in France so every weekend I saw some boats and step by step I became passionate about those boats. I remember the sea trip that I did with my neighbour, who had a boat, and the feeling of freedom that you can have on a boat. I think that’s why I preferred designing some boats although I was passionate about cars too.
BRENON
You studied transportation design at the International Strate School of Design. What was that experience like and what are some of your highlights of your time there?
JULIEN
That was not especially a good experience because I didn’t want to become a car designer so it was not really interesting to me and my relation with the mobility design director was not good (he didn’t really care about his students unfortunately).
BRENON
What is your earliest memory of being interested in design?
JULIEN
I don’t have any particular memory but, since I was a child, I was drawing, especially cars, boats and bikes.
BRENON
Do you come from an artistic/design-oriented family?
JULIEN
Absolutely not haha! My father is an engineer and my mother is a quality and safety trainer so my parents are really not artists.
BRENON
What does your design process look like? How long does it take to create a design you are happy to share with others?
JULIEN
Most of the time, I begin choosing a boat typology (monohull, catamaran, megayacht, small boat…) depending on a target. After, I do some quick sketches to find an interesting shape. Once I have a good shape, I begin the modelization and I find many shape adjustments thanks to the 3D modelization.
BRENON
What kind of designs do you envision yacht owners of the future will want to see?
JULIEN
I think that yachts have to be attractive and thanks to the increasing of the technology we are able to do more sophisticated shapes, that’s what I wanted to show with my Speculo concept. We have to consider the environmental side too and more and more people are concerned by this issue and want to take care of our planet, that’s why I did the Ecoo concept, to show that we can do “Eco-friendly” yachts. So to answer your question, I think we will see sophisticated and green yachts in the future and I hope I will be one of the people who will design them
BRENON
What are some of your own favourite design projects to date and can you briefly explain the story behind them?
JULIEN
One of my favourite concepts is “Navis” because it was designed for disabled people. It’s not a yacht but a small 6.3 meters sailing boat but I think it’s my smartest project. That was my thesis project so it’s really a full project from the exterior styling to the development of a new kind of tiller, adapted to the disabled people.
I am currently working on a catamaran yacht, I have to confess that I am quite proud of this project.
BRENON
Why would a future client choose to work with you?
JULIEN
I’m a young designer so I think I have a fresh vision of what a yacht could be. If people have a look to Speculo or Ecoo I hope they can see unconventional yachts and appreciate them. I am passionate about designing yachts so I’m always looking for perfection.
“I’m a young designer so I think I have a fresh vision of what a yacht could be.”
Julien Cadro – French Yacht Designer
BRENON
Who are some of your favourite designers and why?
JULIEN
I particularly admire the work of Philippe Stark on the Sailing Yacht A because this yacht is really impressive. I love the work of different design studios like Lobanov, Sinot Design, Vripack, Winch Design, Tony Castro Yacht Design, Espen Oeino and Alberto Mancini too.
BRENON
Where do you find inspiration for your designs?
JULIEN
I find inspiration in architecture especially as you can see on concepts like Solis or Ecoo.
BRENON
What have you been reading or watching lately?
JULIEN
I have seen the Formula One series (Drive to Survive) on Netflix, that was really inspiring. This is not linked to the design area but it gives you strength.
BRENON
Do you have any favourite websites/social media accounts you particularly enjoy?
JULIEN
I love all the accounts that are linked to yachts, as yours that I really love because it combines two of my passions: yacht and automotive. I like design and architecture accounts too like Dezeen or Design Boom for example.
BRENON
If you could have dinner with any 4 people, who would they be?
JULIEN
I think it will be with deceased people who lived different eras to organise a debate to know what era was the best. For example we could have Jules César, Gengis Khan, Napoléon and James Watt.
BRENON
Where is your favourite holiday destination?
JULIEN
My favorite one is Greece especially Santorini, it’s just beautiful. I travelled there ten years ago, and I just want to come back to this beautiful island.
BRENON
What do you like to do in your free time to relax/re-charge?
JULIEN
It’s a little bit silly but I love driving especially in the seafront, to breathe some fresh air.
BRENON
What is the best gift you’ve ever received?
JULIEN
That was my first car that I received for my 18th birthday. That was my dream car, a Lotus Elise mark 1.
BRENON
Do you have any causes that are close to your heart?
JULIEN
Yes I am concerned about the environment. I am not an activist but I estimate that I had to design yachts in order to reduce the carbon footprint of a yacht.
BRENON
When do you feel the most creative? Are you a morning person or a night owl?
JULIEN
I was a morning person but thanks to my studies I am more a night owl now haha!
BRENON
Do you have any daily habits that help you focus when designing?
JULIEN
I always listen music to be focus on what I am doing.
BRENON
What advice would you give to new designer students just starting out?
JULIEN
You have to work hard and don’t give up if you are passionate!
BRENON
What tools do you use to design? E.g software, materials, hardware, books etc.?
JULIEN
I use especially Photoshop, Rhinoceros, Keyshot and many sheets of paper to draw.
BRENON
What might you have done if you had not studied transportation design?
JULIEN
I wanted to be an architect during my childhood. Maybe that’s why my main source of inspiration is architecture.
BRENON
Describe a dream project that you’d love to work on?
JULIEN
I would like to work on the most sustainable yacht in the world using all the new technologies available to reduce the carbon footprint. Maybe if Ecoo becomes a real yacht it could be a good starting point, so if rich people see this interview don’t hesitate to contact me haha!
BRENON
Do you have any exciting works-in-progress or upcoming projects you can share with us?
JULIEN
Yes, I am working on a 50 meters catamaran project, so you will see that soon.
BRENON
If you could ask any other designer a question, who and what would it be?
JULIEN
My question is: “Can we be passionate about our work all our life?” and I hope the answer is “Yes”.
BRENON
How can you be contacted and where can people find more information on Julien Cadro designs?
JULIEN
People can see my work on www.instagram/juliencadro and can send me a message and I will answer them. They can have also take a look to my website at this link: https://jcadro.wixsite.com/juliencadro.