As Partner, Senior Interior Designer and Project Manager at Kudos Dsign, Anu Shaw has vast experience in hospitality and marine design. She has worked internationally with a variety of brands on marine, hospitality and residential projects. Next week, she will moderating the session Spotlight on Smaller Ships: Interior Design on Expedition Vessels at Cruise Conversations Live, Cruise Ship Interiors Design Expo Europe’s two-day conference. We caught up with Anu to learn more about her current role, sustainability within the cruise sector, how cruise interiors are evolving and to learn more about her upcoming session.
Thanks for speaking with the Cruise Ship Interiors Design Expo Europe team (CSIE) today! Tell us about your current role and what it entails on a day-to-day basis?
My role is Partner, Senior Interior Designer and Project Manager at Kudos Dsign. I’m in charge of our interior design team, as well as being the project manager. I enjoy my work because it’s different every day. I do lots of internal coordination, working with our design team but also communicating externally with our clients and contractors. I get to see and meet lots of very interesting people and places. As a project manager, I love seeing projects coming to life, and the clients are getting what they have wished and dreamt for.
What inspired you to venture into the marine industry?
Quite simply, I just find marine projects very fascinating. I love their complexity. They’re quite long processes, but I find it interesting to see and be a part of the whole process, seeing the collaboration and coordination between many different operators and teams. It’s a fascinating industry, and that’s why I really enjoy it.
Can you tell us about any key opportunities or challenges faced by the cruise ship interiors industry at present?
The cruise market has grown rapidly and the typical end user customer is changing as well. Our aim is always to create interesting and inspiring interiors and to bring something new, which will be highly appealing to the target customer. On a cruise you spend a lot of time on board and both the quality of the interior design and new concepts play a vital role when the customer chooses a cruise from different holiday options.
Tell us about a recent project that was particularly challenging, interesting, or unique in some way.
I can’t choose just one! It’s always great to be part of new build projects, where everything starts from a blank canvas. But, I also enjoy refurbishments as well, where the projects are more complex and a new interior concept has to be created within an existing space.
What trends have you seen emerging recently, or are expecting to emerge, in the cruise interiors industry?
It’s great to notice that sustainability and green values are becoming increasingly important on all interior projects. Our interior design and material choices are made with a long-term perspective and not just on the basis of following the latest trends, when it comes to the design choices. There are more and more sustainable options available, and you also have to push boundaries and try new, more environmentally friendly materials and design options. Sustainability will become more and more important, and Kudos is very much working at the forefront in this key area.
Using just three words, how would you describe the current state of the cruise interiors industry?
Innovative. Emerging. Hopeful.
Next week you’ll be speaking at Cruise Conversations Live during CSIE. Without giving too much away, can you tell us what we might expect from your session?
Well I think it’s going to be very interesting because we will have speakers offering both a designers and operators perspective, so this will make the discussion more interesting by having both points of view. Expedition ships always are so fascinating, these small vessels with lots of interesting details and gadgets on board.
Finally, we have to ask, what are you most looking forward to at Cruise Ship Interiors Design Expo Europe?
I’m really looking forward to our industry gathering together again after this pandemic. It’s a great opportunity to network and catch up with our industry contacts and to also explore and be inspired at the exhibition.
Refresh your knowledge, source suppliers for your next project, and connect with representatives from world-leading cruise lines at Cruise Ship Interiors Design Expo Europe. Find out about the next event here.