The Monegasque yachting brand has won the premiere edition of the esteemed award dedicated to design.

Monaco, 27 January 2020 – At the debut awards ceremony of the MDO.Montecarlo Prize held at the Yacht Club de Monaco on January 23rd, Wally was honoured with first place in the competition, which celebrates international excellence in innovation, technology, design and sustainability.

The company is particularly pleased to have received the award as it recognises the brand’ s outstanding work in design and innovation on a global scale, beyond the yachting sector. During the ceremony, Stefano de Vivo, Wally Managing Director, thanked the jury for bestowing its first honoured prize on the company, adding: “ We are thrilled that Wally has received this highly respected award. As an integral part of the Ferretti Group, Wally represents the very best in innovation and leadership within the world of design, and is a true pioneer in yachting. Since founding the company, Luca Bassani’ s unfaltering high standards and vision for Wally have elevated the brand to the highest echelons of the global design community.” Standing out among the world’s design luminaries MDO aims this prize to become an important international award highlighting companies focused on creating innovative products of outstanding quality.

An expert committee of renowned architects and designers selected the 52 design luminaries featuring a diverse line-up of international brands from different sectors, each with outstanding reputations for their design work. The nominees were judged by a panel of prominent authorities on design - including renowned architects Mario Botta, Richard England and Jean-Michel Wilmotte, Director of L’Arca International magazine Cesare Casati, and leading Monegasque real estate entrepreneur Patrice Pastor - based on their stylistic, dimensional, functional and economic traits and features.

The Wallycento cruiser-racer Tango had a crucial influence in the Monegasque brand winning the overall prize, said the judges. “Since Wally’s inception, we have made every effort to produce the best and most coherent products with uncompromising values and harmonised design. It is very gratifying to be recognised for the standards which we have always endeavoured to uphold at the company,” said Wally founder Luca Bassani.

A growing list of honours It is not the first time that Wally has been recognised by experts from beyond the horizons of the yachting world. It has previously received two ADI Compasso d’Oro Awards – widely regarded as one of the oldest and most influential international design awards in the world – for sailing yachts Tiketitoo and Ryokan 2. Wally is the only yachting brand to have thus far been twice bestowed with the coveted prize. The company has also received two Honourable Mentions – for sailing yachts Black Sails and Tango – from the ADI Compasso d’Oro design competition. Furthermore, in 2010 Ryokan 2 was awarded with the Design Award of the Federal Republic of Germany which honours innovative products and designers in the German and International design sector.

These exceptional accolades prove Wally’ s strong and unique reputation which has expanded its standing beyond the nautical sector. Furthermore, the great industrial, organisational and commercial capabilities of Ferretti Group will boost Wally’ s unique potential even further. About the MDO.Montecarlo prize The MDO.Montecarlo Prize is organised by MDO under the High Patronage of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, in collaboration with l’Arca International – one of the design world’ s most respected magazines – and in partnership with ADI (the Association for Industrial Design), IFI (the International Federation of Interior Architects & Designers), Dedalo Minosse International Prize, the French Institute of Design, and with La Gazette de Monaco as a media partner.

Wally

Wally is the world leader in yachting innovation, combining the latest technology with contemporary design, constantly looking at ways of improving on the water enjoyment with performance, comfort and style. Founded in 1994 by Luca Bassani, passionate and visionary yachtsman, Wally changed the entire concept of cruising yachts and created groundbreaking sailing and power boats which are unmatched reference points in yachting and in the design world. In 2019, Wally became part of the Ferretti Group. Wally is the only yachting brand to be a two-time winner of the ADI Compasso d’Oro, the world’s most important award for quality and design.

For further information, please visit wally.com

Communication & PR Assistant / Sand People Communication