His aspiration was to become a car designer, so he chose to study at the automobile-centric Scienze dell’Automobile school in Modena, a nurturing environment for many talented automotive designers.
photo: Giovanni Malgarini
However, for Varese-based yacht designer Michele Dragoni, destiny had a different path in store. “To be honest, I wasn’t particularly interested in boats; as a child, I was fascinated by cars, which remains a great passion of mine,” he shares. “After university, I joined Christian Grande’s studio, which was already involved in the nautical sector.” During that time, Grande was developing the Sessa Oyster 30 and 38, and among the concepts and sketches of what were truly innovative designs for the early 2000s, a spark was ignited in Dragoni.
Solaris Power 70 Sport coupé
“While working on those projects, I realized that a yacht is a much more comprehensive product than a car; it is more complex to design due to the living aspects,” he explains. In 2004, along with two partners, Michele founded what quickly became a rising yacht design firm. With Hot Lab, where he served as chief exterior designer, he created some of the most iconic exterior profiles of the first two decades of the 21st century. “However, after many years of collaboration, I felt the need for a change,” he adds.
photo: Giovanni Malgarini
Consequently, in 2019, Dragoni Design Lab was established, focused on yacht design and more: the signature design of the e-bike Terra, commissioned by VR46 and unveiled in 2022, is just one example. The studio, situated in a former Benedictine convent in the heart of Varese, embodies Dragoni’s philosophy. “Unlike some artists who find their greatest inspiration in turmoil, I believe a designer requires an environment filled with beauty to excel.”
The Tribale 95
A studio like this indeed nurtures creativity” (especially with Mokka, his French Bulldog, around). Dragoni distinguishes between the realms of art and design. “Though an expression of creativity, design must serve a function and be feasible to produce; it has to consider a budget and, if possible, aid the shipyard. It’s almost scientific,” he elaborates.
The Solaris 70 Long Range
In recent years, Dragoni has focused heavily on one-off hulls, whereas today he emphasizes series production. “Working for a brand requires adherence to strict guidelines. The most challenging aspect, typical of the automotive industry, is maintaining a cohesive family feeling that transcends the designer. This perspective is not common among yacht designers today; you must think broadly, set aside any personal ego, grasp the yard’s legacy, and identify what to enhance and what to modify.
Manda E09
It’s essential to listen to input from the board and the dealers. This isn’t easy because, after assimilating the feedback, the designer must create something new yet recognizable and consistent with the brief. The more extensive and detailed the requirements, the more straightforward it is to guide the design,” he concludes. Currently, Dragoni is undertaking several projects. For Solaris Power, his studio has just designed the 70 Long Range, the brand’s first crossover, which accomplishes the remarkable feat of translating the brand’s style to an entirely different hull type. “The stunning lines of the existing Solaris Power open yachts were inspired by the original lobster models. Crafting a three-deck crossover that reflected their lines was no simple task,” explains Dragoni. The 70 features a captivating hull, both robust and graceful.
Manda E09
Thanks to various stylistic techniques, the heights are minimized, giving it a streamlined appearance despite its size. This unit is among the few 70-foot crossovers to also offer a tender garage, enhancing the design options for the stern while maintaining a spacious cockpit. To align the crossover with an open feel, Dragoni emphasized a tall bow, a sharply inclined and slender forward thrust, and sun deck roof pillars oriented in opposite directions.
Manda E09
Another shipyard actively working with Michele is Manda Yacht, a company born from the untamed passion for yachting of its visionary owner, Luigi Manda. For this brand, Dragoni has designed the interiors of the S07 Berlinetta, the S09, and the S05.3, as well as the new Manda E9, supervising both the exterior and interior. Dragoni’s distinctive interiors made their debut with the S07 Berlinetta, featuring exteriors designed by Ceccarelli yacht design.
Manda E09
Elegant and daring, the designs clearly reflect avant-garde concepts from interior and fashion design, blending taut volumes with bold circular elements. Bold contrasts of materials, shapes, and colors interact with natural light, creating a seamless link with the sea. However, the true masterpiece is the Manda E09, a 27-meter vessel that perfectly merges the characteristics of both explorer and support units. It features a hull with sharp lines, strong yet gentle, introducing a new category in Manda’s production, all while adhering to the stylistic identity already established by Ceccarelli.
For instance, reintroducing the bow cyclops makes the design more explicit and decisive; the rear evokes an SUV aesthetic, the expansive cockpit lacks visible stairs, and a cantilevered sofa enhances the beach club. Automotive inspiration can also be seen in the upper fairing protecting the wheelhouse and the slender, asymmetrical, kimono-inspired cover. Other recent projects include the Audace 50, a collaboration with Aicon Yachts and historic client Lynx Yacht, which earned him a World Yachts Award at Cannes; the Tribale 95, a crossover by Tribale Yachts; and the interiors of the 35-meter Explorer custom design by Bee Yacht.
photo: Giovanni Malgarini