Rhoades Young Design Ltd

What Rhoades Young Design Ltd does

Rhoades Young Design Ltd is a privately held UK superyacht design studio founded in 1999 by Directors Jonathan Rhoades and Dick Young, operating from a design office in Lymington, Hampshire. The studio provides bespoke interior and exterior design services for sailing yachts, motor yachts, and catamarans, with a portfolio spanning vessels from 21m to 72m LOA, along with aircraft interior refurbishment and occasional residential projects. Its design process moves from first-principles concept sketches through detailed technical drawings, 3D CAD-rendered models, and photorealistic visualizations, with project management through construction at the build shipyard.

The studio's revenue model is professional services: project-specific design fees for bespoke commissions, with no public pricing. Go-to-market is direct and founder-led, with Jonathan Rhoades and Dick Young personally involved in every client engagement from initial enquiry through completion. The primary customer segment is high-net-worth individual yacht owners commissioning new builds or refits, served alongside a secondary segment of production yacht manufacturers (e.g., Seaway Group/Greenline, Nautor's Swan) seeking premium design differentiation. Distribution is through direct client relationships and shipyard referral networks, including partnerships with Royal Huisman, Vitters, Baltic Yachts, Benetti, Holland Jachtbouw, JFA, Moonen, Claasen, and naval architects such as Hoek, Dykstra, Dubois, and Tripp Design. The studio has won multiple World Superyacht Awards, ShowBoats Design Awards, and ISS Design Awards across sailing and motor yacht categories, supporting its positioning as a top-tier independent design practice in the global superyacht market.

Name

Rhoades Young Design Ltd

Legal name

Rhoades Young Design Ltd

Website

https://rhoadesyoung.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Rhoades Young Design Ltd is a UK-based bespoke superyacht design studio founded in 1999, providing interior and exterior design plus project management for sailing yachts, motor yachts, catamarans, and private aircraft, serving high-net-worth owners and premium shipyards worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Superyacht Design Services

NAICS

Boat Building (336612), Industrial Design Services (54142)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Project Management & Owner’s Engineering / Technical Consultancy (Spec Writing, Bid Support, Site Support) (IMAJAGAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Full-Custom Superyacht & Megayacht Manufacturing (IMAJAMAB)

Keywords

• Superyacht design
• Yacht interior design
• Yacht exterior design
• Luxury yacht interiors
• Bespoke yacht design

Headquarters

HQ city

Stroud

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Bespoke Yacht Design Services: Custom yacht interior and exterior design services for superyacht owners. Revenue is generated through design fees for concept development, detailed design drawings, and project management services throughout the yacht construction or refit process.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Bespoke superyacht interior and exterior design studio offering a full design process from initial concept sketches through detailed technical drawings, 3D CAD-rendered models, and project management during yacht construction or refit. Led by Directors Jonathan Rhoades and Dick Young, the studio serves high-net-worth yacht owners and select production yacht manufacturers, with project work delivered in close collaboration with world-class shipyards and naval architects.

Product overview

Rhoades Young Design Ltd is a superyacht design studio offering bespoke interior and exterior design services for sailing yachts, motor yachts, and catamarans. Led by Directors Jonathan Rhoades and Dick Young, the studio provides a comprehensive design process spanning concept development, general details, cabin drawings, decorative design, exterior styling, and project management. Their portfolio includes projects ranging from 21m pocket superyachts to 72m megayachts, with specializations in both modern and classic yacht design aesthetics. The company also extends its design expertise to aircraft interior refurbishment, particularly for private jets and helicopters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Yacht Interior Design Services Bespoke superyacht interior architecture and design creating unique interiors for sailing yachts, motor yachts, and catamarans, working from concept development through detailed technical drawings, decorative design, and oversight during construction.
• Yacht Exterior Design Services Superyacht exterior and styling design for both sailing and motor yachts, including cockpit areas, carbon biminis, folding platforms, helm consoles, and exterior graphics, with cohesive integration between interior and exterior spaces.
• Project Management Services Full project management during yacht construction, including communication with shipyards and furniture outfitters, quality oversight, and post-launch support.
• Aircraft Interior Refurbishment Interior design and refurbishment services for private aircraft, including jets and helicopters, transforming existing interiors with bespoke design solutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple World Superyacht Awards, ShowBoats Design Awards, and ISS Design Awards wins across sailing and motor yacht categories
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Royal HuismancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremium shipyard partnership for classic and contemporary yacht construction. Key projects include Wisp (48m classic sloop), Pumula (36.5m sailing yacht), Samurai conversion (42.4m), Arcadia, and Maria Cattiva. Royal Huisman is described as one of the world's finest yacht builders.
• Spirit YachtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Spirit Yachts 111 Geist (33.9m), an eco-friendly sailing yacht with unique electric propulsion system and organic curved interior design.
• Hoek Design Naval ArchitectscoreTechnology or IntegrationLongstanding design collaboration on multiple projects including Wisp and Meraki. RYD brings interior and exterior design expertise while Hoek provides naval architecture.
• Vitters ShipyardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremium Dutch shipyard partnership for high-performance sailing yachts. Projects include Meraki (49.7m classic ketch), Sarissa (42.6m carbon sloop), Gimla, and other superyachts.
• Baltic YachtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinnish shipyard partnership for Hetairos (66.7m carbon sailing yacht), one of the world's largest and most technically advanced sailing yachts, and Aileen (19.81m).
• BenettimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Benetti Imagination 47m motor yacht as part of the Imagination series, working with Benetti's in-house design team.
• MoonenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Phoebe Moonen 30m motor yacht, which became a flagship for the Moonen Shipyard demonstrating their craftsmanship.
• JFA Chantier NavalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench shipyard partnership for classic yacht projects including Atao (24.9m), Bystander (42m), and Hortense (27.5m motor-sailor).
• Holland JachtbouwmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch shipyard partnership for Calliope (43m motoryacht), a showcase of classical architecture with contemporary furniture design.
• Dykstra Naval ArchitectscoreTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration on classic and Spirit of Tradition yachts including Pumula, Kamaxitha, and Hetairos. Combines Dykstra's naval architecture with RYD's interior and exterior design.
• Tripp DesigncoreTechnology or IntegrationNaval architecture partnership on high-performance sailing yachts including Mystere (43m sloop), Sarissa (42.6m carbon sloop), Black Pearl (23.3m), and Skade (46m sloop).
• Dubois Naval ArchitectscoreTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration on Lady B (44.7m high-performance sloop) and other Dubois-designed yachts.
• Cornelsen & PartnercoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProject management and owner's representation firm appearing on multiple RYD projects including Samurai, Sarissa, Maria Cattiva, Asgard, and Spirit Yachts 111 Geist.
• Hoek Design Naval ArchitectscoreTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration on multiple projects combining naval architecture with RYD's interior and exterior design expertise.
• Seaway GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Greenline Ocean Class 70, a production-yacht market collaboration featuring exterior and interior design by RYD with hybrid technology.
• Volare AviationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on aircraft refurbishment projects including Gulfstream G700 interior design. One of RYD's non-marine design extensions.
• Yachting DevelopmentsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Zealand shipyard partnership for Antares III (30m sloop), built to Germanischer Lloyd and MCA classification.
• Nautor's SwancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding relationship spanning back to late 1990s, including Aristarchos (40m, largest Nautor Swan at time), covering production yachts to custom superyachts.
• GunboatminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatamaran project for Gunboat 90 Sunshine (24.7m), RYD's first catamaran project featuring both exterior and interior design.
• Claasen JachtbouwmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch shipyard partnership for Louise (21.4m pocket superyacht), described as matching performance of modern cruiser/racer with larger yacht detailing.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Winch Design: UK-based superyacht and private jet interior/exterior design studio of comparable size and reputation. Directly competes with Rhoades Young for top-tier HNW commissions across sailing yachts, motor yachts, and aircraft interiors.
• Bannenberg & Rowell: London-based superyacht design studio offering bespoke interior and exterior design services. Highly comparable founder-led boutique model targeting the same HNW yacht-owner segment.
• Studio Indigo: Yacht interior and exterior design studio with a comparable boutique footprint and bespoke-service orientation. Overlaps with RYD on custom superyacht and refit projects.
• Nuvolari Lenard: Italian superyacht design studio offering full exterior and interior design. Competes for the same pool of custom superyacht commissions and has a similar award-winning track record.
• Terence Disdale Design: Long-established UK yacht interior design studio with a similarly award-winning portfolio across sailing and motor yachts. Closest comparable in business model and client profile.
• H2 Yacht Design: Boutique superyacht design studio offering interior, exterior, and naval architecture services. Comparable in scale, founder-led approach, and target client base.
• RWD (Redman Whiteley Dixon): UK superyacht design house providing full interior and exterior design plus project management. Direct competitor for custom yacht commissions of similar size and complexity.
• Design Unlimited: UK-based superyacht interior design studio specialising in bespoke yacht interiors with strong shipyard relationships. Directly comparable services, size, and customer profile.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rhoades-young-design-ltd

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rhoades Young Design Ltd