Spotlight’s on Officina Italiana Design, now celebrating 30 years of activity

2024 is a scintillating, eventful year for OfficinaItaliana Design. The studio that exclusively designs the lovely, harmonious lines of the Riva craft, symbols of beauty, luxury and elegance in the nautical world,is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its foundation. This significant event coincides with the recent renewal of the collaboration contract with the Sarnico yard, extending it for a further five years. The confirmation of this agreement is not just an expression of a desire to maintain a professional relationship, it also cements a thirty-year partnership that Mauro Micheli and Sergio Beretta, founders of OfficinaItaliana Design,are especially proud of.

For the Bergamo-based studio, which created the exteriors and interiors of all Riva craft from the 7 to 54-metre models, the 30-year anniversary coincides with the dawn of a new era that’s just bristling with professional challenges. It’s also attracted the attentionof many radio and podcast broadcastersinterested in understanding how iconic craft come into existence -  like “Al dente”, a podcast about Italian excellence.

Recently, Mauro Micheli and Sergio Beretta alsoappeared in the documentary"Riva Per Sempre. Una storia di traguardi e innovazioni" (Riva For Ever. A story of objectives and innovations), written by Francesca Molteni and Antonio Vettese, produced by Yacht Design, Boat Show Television and Muse Factory of Projects. The film depicts the significant milestones in the Riva story, broadcast on Sky Arts and in mid-July and currently available on NOW.

“We’re very proud of these appearances because they provide further confirmation of OfficinaItaliana Design’s important contribution Riva as a brand that represents Italian expertise and flair throughout the world,”, says Sergio Beretta, CEO of OfficinaItaliana Design. “These occasions, which surprised us a little, and incidentally coincide with the important withthis important landmark in our operations, have enabled us to gain greater awareness of the importance of the professional journey we have shared with OfficinaItaliana Designand also our official place in the Riva story. For us it’s a great accolade, we don’t believe there’s a better way to celebrate this event”.

The icing on the cake is provided bythe RAI docu-series “Italian Genius”, broadcast on 16th August. The programme is dedicated to Italian know-how and individuals known and appreciated for their ability to innovate,with an episode dedicated entirely to Mauro Micheli. In it, the Bergamo-based designer, chief designer of OfficinaItaliana Design, presents himself as a person, artist and yacht designer through anecdotes and curiosities. This introspective story also depicts the designer’s favourite places and his eventual entry into the “Plancia”, Carlo Riva’s studio.

“I’m pleasantly surprised by this media attention”,says Mauro Micheli. “It’s a natural reaction to take stock when such an important anniversary comes around. It’s been30 years of objectives, choices and sometimes daring changes, 30 years of constant commitment where OfficinaItaliana Design has also experienced many moments of great satisfaction, from small craft to superyachts. We’ve created yachts that are instantly recognisable. This is down to stylistic codes that we now often see replicated on designs by other brands, and the fact that a number of players in the nautical world have been watching and supporting us is a sign that we’ve opened the way to new horizons in yacht design. I think that over these thirty years we’ve created well-loved and sought-after style icons.The boats by Aquariva (which after 25 years are still being produced), Dolceriva and Rivamare all have their own story and identity. The new Riva Superyacht Division has enabled us to break into a competitive market with craft that are full of character and have a balanced design that identifies the brand”.

“The 30th anniversary is also the right time to thank those who have accompanied us our journey, providing constant stimuli and informed debate”, says Mauro Micheli and Sergio Beretta, “Without this discussion, which was sometimes heated, we wouldn’t have been able to create the projects we are so proud of. We’d also like to give special thanks to the past, present and future members of our studio team. Above all, thanks to Ferretti Group CEO Alberto Galassi, for his great vision and expertise as well as for the great trust that is the basis of our relationship, to Piero Ferrari, who leds the Strategic Product Committee, for the constant technical support. Not forgetting Norberto Ferretti and his support he gave us at our debut and to Chairman of Sanlorenzo Massimo Perotti for his esteem and interesting experience with his shipyard. And thanks to all the Riva’s workforce because even the most beautiful idea can never be transformed into reality if it is not interpreted and constructed with passion and skill”.