Interview with Nicolò De Vittorio, Product Designer at MICAD

Nicolò De Vittorio joined MICAD six years ago, after studying design in Turin and choosing to return to Puglia. Starting with an internship, he gradually became part of the team and now works as Product Designer, defining the character and stylistic direction of MICAD’s projects. In this interview, he talks about freehand drawing, the relationship between design and engineering, and the value of developing international yacht projects from Southern Italy.

Q: Nicolò, your journey at MICAD began with a return to Puglia. How did it all start?

N: After studying design in Turin, where I developed my skills in freehand sketching and creative design, I decided to return home and look for opportunities in my own region. I joined MICAD six years ago, when the company was still growing. It already had a very solid engineering background and was beginning to develop its creative direction. I started with an internship and gradually became part of the team. As MICAD grew, my role grew with it.

Q: What are your main responsibilities as Product Designer?

N: My work begins with the first sketches. I define the character and stylistic identity of the yacht, creating the initial direction of the project. That idea is then developed together with the engineering team and tested against hydrodynamics, stability, structure and functionality. Every line has to contribute to the project and respond to a real need.

Q: What role does freehand drawing play in such a digital design process?

N: For me, it represents the origin of the project. The first sketches allow me to give an identity and a character to the yacht. Drawing by hand captures the initial intuition quickly, before the data defines its technical boundaries. The software then helps us optimise the variables, develop the geometry and verify the feasibility of the project. The two stages are closely connected.

Q: How do design and engineering work together in your daily activity?

N: There is a continuous exchange between the two disciplines. My studies taught me that design responds to a need. At MICAD, an aesthetic idea is always tested through engineering. I do not try to preserve a line simply because it looks good. I examine its purpose and how it works within the whole project. When a line does not support the function, structure or identity of the yacht, it needs to be reconsidered.

Q: MICAD is often described as a close-knit company. How would you describe the atmosphere in the studio?

N: We really are a small family. We share complex challenges, demanding periods and important achievements. This helps us approach each project with cohesion and calm. Designers, engineers and technicians work closely together, each contributing their own expertise. Although we are based in Southern Italy, we work with an international mindset and maintain high standards across every project.

Q: What does it mean to develop international yacht projects from Puglia?

N: It is a significant opportunity. There is still a common perception that working in high-end design requires moving to Northern Italy or abroad. My experience at MICAD has shown me that this level of work can also be developed here. Returning home with experience gained elsewhere allowed me to see my region from a different perspective. Even after six years, seeing a sketch created in Puglia become a luxury yacht still excites me.

Q: If you had to describe your approach to yacht design in one sentence?

N: I would describe it as the search for a clear and lasting form, where every line responds to a technical, functional and architectural need.

Interview with Nicolò De Vittorio, Product Designer at MICAD

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