Tag Archive: superyacht


3D Yacht Renderings

Filed under: Gallery, Yachting News — Leave a comment
November 16, 2011

The process of creating amazing images has been evolving with new computing power and the skills of artists to translate the vision into reality. 3D yacht rendering and visualization has been a core part of our business for over ten years. With grounding in photorealistic architectural animation the team at Urban Voyage quickly developed unique capabilities in the marine sector. Virtual images enable customers to visually understand the implications of design choices, yards reduce the change-order process and yacht chartering companies to market and sell build projects.

Creating interactive 3D presentations and boat renderings seems like a dream business because we have the opportunity to bring life to CAD drawings and dreams into reality. Building a yacht is a life-time experience and goal for many wealthy business moguls, entrepreneurs and families. Ensuring smooth communication of ideas and concepts can make the difference between a construction of a superyacht and the creation of an award-winning masterpiece.

It was our pleasure to work on SY Starfish and the amazing team to create some of our most spectacular and luxurious 3D renderings to date. The superyacht interior design has been translated into high quality animation for marketing and visualization. See the video of the 50 meter Star Fish below:

“The 50 metre Star Fish, projected to launch in April of 2012, will follow in the footsteps of the acclaimed 45 metre Aquos Yachts project Big Fish. Star Fish, currently under construction at McMullen & Wing, will be based on the same hull form, but will include six staterooms and accommodation for 14 crew, and a flexible owner’s deck with optional forward-facing cabin and both fore and aft decks.”

“The stunning arrangement by Greg C. Marshall Naval Architects, which is also responsible for the hull design, allows the skylounge deck to be dedicated solely to owner’s use, or to be incorporated in the yacht’s public space scheme. The captain’s cabin and Starship Enterprise-like wheelhouse will be located on a fourth deck with a dramatic flying bridge and observation pod above it.”

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Technology Fads vs. 3D

Filed under: Newsletters, Technology — Leave a comment
June 4, 2009

You’ll most likely have seen or experienced the Red and Blue Anaglyph “3D Glasses” of old that gave viewers the perception of 3D. You may also remember how well or not that they worked and the excitement of experiencing entertainment in a new way.

JPL_NASA_Lab

Zareh, Rich & Anita experience "3D" at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA

Growing up in New Zealand I recall a big promotion that KFC ran in conjunction with a TV Movie (the B-Grade 1954 horror mystery Gorilla at Large) that when you purchased a certain KFC meal you received a pair of “3-D Viewing Glasses”. The hype seemed to extend across the entire country with the glasses being a “must-have” item. The hype quickly faded when the movie was broadcast and the quality of the 3D experience was less than stunning. Similar experiences has been repeated around the world when hyped technology (aka Fads) that fail to deliver are promoted as the next big thing.

More recently DreamWorks Animation pulled off perhaps the biggest media-advertising event in history by broadcasting a 3D trailer for Monsters vs. Aliens during Super Bowl Sunday. Around 150 Million 3D glasses were given away for free at Pepsi/SoBe Life Water displays at 28,000 locations around the United States. The promotion used Intel’s InTru 3D and ColourCode 3-D technologies (reported to be far superior than the old Anaglyph system). The campaign involved “tens of millions of dollars”.

What we have been seeing for a while now has been the evolution of 3D technology, being lead by the Games & Entertainment Industry, moving closer and closer to use of 3D in everyday life. It’s now possible to watch 3D TV without wearing any external devices (such as glasses) and it’s not long before many Hollywood films will be released in 3D. Hundreds of Millions of dollars is being invested across all areas of business, entertainment and life to leverage the power of 3D – enriching our lives, making entertainment more compelling and enhancing customer’s experiences of our brands, products and services.

On Friday Microsoft released information about “Project Natal” and the collective jaws dropped when Don Mattrick & Steven Spielberg presented a demo of a game that has no external “game controllers” other than yourself. If there were any barriers left for people to interact with technology, they have just smashed them. The applications outside of gaming are as wide as they are compelling. Click here for more information about Project Natal.

So what separates technology fads from technology developments that provide real value? It’s the opinion of Urban Voyage that ultimately the market will decide what it needs and wants. We don’t need a touch-screen interface to use a cell phone do we? We don’t need to have 3D to enjoy a good movie do we? We don’t need 3D for our project, do we? Well maybe and maybe not. And yet on mass there have been 6.9 Million iPhones sold world-wide, a group of Hollywood Studios are investing US$1 Billion to upgrade 20,000 North American movie theatres to digital projector systems and Superyachts (dreams) are being sold before a single frame has been laid.

The risk of not embracing new solutions is that you risk having to play a serious game of catch up when your competitors race ahead because they have. 3D is moving more and more into our everyday lives making interaction with information easier, more compelling and fun.

Can you afford to be left behind?

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Why Small is the New Big

Filed under: Newsletters — Leave a comment
April 14, 2009

I’ve just finished reading an article by Peter Bregman for Harvard Business and thought it contained some really interesting ideas. In the article Peter talks about a software company that’s small in comparison with the big players, yet is winning contracts over them and achieving million dollar *prepaid* contracts.

So what’s going on? It’s Peter’s opinion and ours that customers are nervous about large companies being around to support them and provide the level of service that smaller more focused enterprises are offering. Can you pick up the phone and know you’ll be able to speak to the CEO? Do you know exactly who to call if the work isn’t done to your expectations?

The structure of Urban Voyage means that our partners have the confidence and security of knowing they can call and speak directly to the people working on their project – that comes with dedication and developing personal relationships over time that create trust.

Interestingly he also makes another point about how smaller companies give their employees a sense of security because they have much greater control over their own destiny. In a small company when you do a great job, you are likely to get noticed, in a large company you can be lost (and laid off) more easily.

The public has lost a lot of confidence in large companies, especially those such as AIG, Lehman, Citibank, GM, Chrysler and many more – it’s now perceived as a risk doing business with the big players.

einstein-blackboardWe share the view that Peter has that people simply don’t trust companies anymore. People trust people. It’s the personal touch and hands on approach that seems to be winning the day.

Necessity is the Mother of Invention and right now many people are feeling the pressure to see results and put food on the table for their families. We are coming into a time where technology and need have set the stage for many, many innovative and creative companies to emerge. Niche companies (including Superyacht Builders, Designers and Management Companies) that provide real value and create loyal customers are carving out the knowledge economy New Zealand and the world needs to move forward.

Some big companies are in serious trouble, yet smart boutique firms that understand how to create a niche, add value and be experts in their field are creating jobs and sustainable businesses. It’s an age of change where those that cut deeper, innovate, focus on quality and be true to themselves will survive and thrive.

    - Small is the new big.

    - Sustainable is the new growth.

    - Trust is the new competitive advantage.

If you are looking for a team that you can trust and a CEO that’s only a phone call away – speak to Urban Voyage today.

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Luxury Brands are Failing to Deliver on Fundamentals at a Critical Time for the Industry

Filed under: Newsletters, Urban Voyage Press, Yachting News — Leave a comment
March 31, 2009

In a recent report released by the Luxury Institute from a survey of 500+ high net-worth individuals presented findings that will challenge many in the Superyacht Industry. Important  findings show how half of the customers surveyed believe luxury is becoming a commodity and prices are too high.

Audrey Hepburn, Classic Style Icon

Audrey Hepburn, Classic Style Icon

“At a time when consumers are cutting back for many reasons, the luxury industry’s two biggest draws for consumers are discounting and sales. Luxury leaders need to quickly get beyond the  price and cost-cutting exercises and start innovating again on quality, craftsmanship and, especially, customer service.“

The new research is in line with our belief that Industry leaders must remain highly focused on innovative, quality products and create unique customer experiences. It can be easy to cut  costs however what impact will that have on the quality of the product you are building and what will the impact on customer service be?

Another interesting finding was that a sense of flaunting luxury at this time is insensitive and of the desire to help others rather than spend on themselves. I wonder if we’ll return  to the days of cultured and discreet wealth that is truly reflective of style and taste whilst remaining understated and elegant – think Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Prince Charles,  JFK Junior, Carolyn Bessette, Martha Stuart and many others.

Some Key Findings:

* Superior quality (82%), superior craftsmanship (78%) and superior customer service (60%) are the top three requirements of a luxury brand. Yet, more than one-third of consumers say luxury brands are worse today than in the recent past on delivering superior customer service and on failing to have salespeople who are experts in their products

* 64% of wealthy consumers believe luxury goods prices are too high relative to the value they deliver.

* 62% of wealthy consumers say that the current state of the economy has changed their view of the luxury industry. Key reasons include: more budget conscious, luxury goods are too “mass” vs. price, a sense that flaunting luxury at this time is insensitive, and a desire to help others rather than spend on themselves

So how can your organization *ensure* superior quality, craftsmanship, customer service and value? Talk with the team at Urban Voyage and see how smart technology solutions are helping our partners deliver exceptional results in challenging times.

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Superyacht of the week: Harle, uncompromisingly beautiful and gracious

Filed under: Gallery, Yachting News — Leave a comment
March 30, 2009

Recently honored with the Best Power 40m-65m award 2008 by the International Superyacht Society, the 44.65-meter (146’ 6”) Feadship Harle is a motoryacht of uncompromising beauty and grace. Built by Feadship/Royal Van Lent, this superb vessel completely validates the ideas behind the custom-series F45 Vantage concept.

Full Article

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