Gulf Craft partners with Dubai university to encourage boatbuilding careers

Gulf Craft and the Dubai Institute of Design & Innovation (DIDI) are teaming up to introduce a new project across the autumn 2022 semester. Students in their second, third and fourth years will work on strategic brand and design innovations for Gulf Craft.

UAE-based shipyard Gulf Craft says it hopes to introduce the next generation of innovators to the marine industry, encouraging them to consider an exciting career in the region’s rapidly expanding yachting and boatbuilding sector.

This semester’s class will take an open approach, allowing students to discover their own topics within a broad framework driven by Gulf Craft’s vertically integrated operation. The framework includes concept creation, design and engineering, to final production. Gulf Craft says it hopes to gain fresh perspectives from bright, upcoming designers.

With its first intake in 2018, DIDI offers courses in product design, multimedia design, fashion design and strategic design management.

The class, led by Professor Elmar Schüller, is running between September and December and includes a Gulf Craft Shipyard tour, presentations judged by a panel of Gulf Craft experts and a visit to the Gulf Craft Experience Centre in Dubai.

The final stage of the project is marked by student presentations, where they will have the opportunity to discuss their learnings and showcase 2D and 3D design simulations.

“Innovation, design and empowering the next generation of the yachting community is a passion for Gulf Craft,” says Abeer AlShaali, deputy managing director for Gulf Craft. “This is why we are partnering with DIDI, to share its values and vision and exchange knowledge and expertise with up-and-coming design talent.”

Pictured [from left]: Prof. Elmar from DIDI and Abeer Alshaali, deputy managing director at Gulf Craft.

Professor Schüller, strategic design management, DIDI adds: “Partnerships with forward-thinking companies such as Gulf Craft are extremely valuable learning experiences for our students. Through working with companies on practical projects such as this, they get to better understand how design- and innovation strategies work in the real world and in the context of a global business and entrepreneurship.

“Innovation is not just about design or technology, it concerns how to approach business challenges, identify opportunities for growth and create a value proposition which sets the brand apart from the rest.”

Gulf Craft has production facilities in Umm Al Quwain and the Maldives.