Designing for nautical vessels includes customizing sailing yachts, motor yachts, dive vessels and other sea faring crafts. The process begins with conceptualization of the project and the preparation of the preliminary design, involves project design and evaluation, followed by the finalization of the design and then the execution of the design.

Careers in naval architecture require an understanding of the many branches of engineering and entail the application of high level technology in areas such as calculation and computer added design.

A naval architect needs to be creative and logical minded, able to make sound judgments, display qualities of leadership and also needs the ability to communicate clearly. Naval architects have a broad range of employment opportunities. These include careers in design, construction and repair, marketing and sales, consultancy, regulations, surveying and overseeing, operations, education and training, and research and development.

Each type of profession has its own distinguishing characteristics and offers occasions for imagination and initiative in a wide array of positions, including technical and managerial positions. These can be found through the different career opportunities in large companies, small consultancy groups or government offices.

Naval architects have the chance to become specialists in their chosen fields or expand and broaden their experience in other related areas. With the right kind of education from the right institution, a naval architect can branch into the world of interior design as well, and launch a career as a successful designer for nautical vessels.

Here are some schools where potential naval architects can get their education specializing in design:

Falmouthe Marine School. This institution offers a yacht design program through correspondence.

The Landing School. This institution specializes in education for professions in the marine trade including designers, boat builders and marine system technicians.

The University of Newcastle upon Tyne UK has a department of Marine Technology offering B.Eng.,M.Eng.,M.Res.,M.Sc., and Ph.D degrees in marine technology, including all features of design, construction, production and operation of all types of ships, marine crafts and edifices.

Macnaughtongroup Yacht Design School, offering a degree program in naval architecture with a specialization in yacht and small craft designs. This institution also offers a Computer Assisted design course. These programs are offered as two year courses for residential and non residential students, allowing them to go at their own pace while studying, and with a tuition of less than $2000.

The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale offers a BS degree in Yacht and Marine Design with courses focusing on the skills that manufacturers of boating equipment use. This aspect of design uses drawing, model making ,drafting and computer modeling to come up with new designs for water crafts and other marine products.

The CDS, Cenetro Sperimentale di Design has a specialized post graduate course for designers who want to get into the field of designing motor yachts. Their program concentrates on the different methods of styling and designing and is carried out under the supervision of the International Shipyard di Ancona.

Pembrokeshire College offers degrees and courses in power boats, marine engineering and boat design and build.

The Southampton Institute has the Yacht and Powercraft Design which is a three year course focusing on the building and designing of yachts and other commercial crafts.