Luca Santella Confirmed as Keynote Speaker at Business of Design Week Hong Kong 2025

Sanlorenzo Asia-Pacific is pleased to announce that Luca Santella, Founder and Head of Product Strategy at Bluegame, will join an exceptional lineup of creative visionaries as a confirmed keynote speaker at the upcoming Business of Design Week (BODW) 2025. The Asia’s flagship design conference will take place from 2 – 6 December, 2025, with the main Summit scheduled for 3 – 5 December at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

About Business of Design Week

Since its inception in 2002, Business of Design Week has established itself as Asia’s premier annual event on design, innovation and brands. Organised by the Hong Kong Design Centre, BODW brings together some of the world’s most outstanding design masters, influential business figures, and creative leaders to inspire regional and global audiences on creative thinking and design management.

BODW 2025 will welcome Italy as the year-long Partner Country, celebrating the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Italy. This partnership highlights Italy’s rich design tradition and creative energy, which beautifully complements Hong Kong’s bold spirit of innovation and experimentation. Under the theme “Curiosity Ignites Design Innovation”, the Summit will gather more than 50 creative leaders and business decision-makers from over 10 countries and regions to participate in more than 40 sessions, including keynote speeches, panels, networking events, and exhibitions.

The 2025 edition features an impressive line-up of internationally acclaimed speakers from the worlds of architecture, luxury branding, design, and technology. Joining Luca Santella on the Main Stage are: Angelica Visconti, Vice Chairman of Ferragamo, Nicolas François Luchsinger, CEO of Buccellati, Patricia Viel, Architect and Co-founder of ACPV ARCHITECTS, Susanna Minotti, Head of Interior Decoration Department at Minotti, and other representatives from the most prestigious Italian brands.

Italy confirmed as the year-round Partner Country of BODW in 2025. A momentous occasion witnessed by esteemed industry leaders and government representatives with Mr Carmelo Ficarra, Consul General of Italy in Hong Kong and Macau, and Prof. Eric Yim, Chairman of HKDC.

Luca Santella – A Life Dedicated to the Sea

Luca Santella has dedicated his life to the sea, seamlessly merging his passion for sailing with architectural expertise. As an accomplished Olympic sailor, he competed at the 1988 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona Olympics, and won ten Italian titles, three European Championships, and three World podiums throughout his sailing career. After graduating with honours in Architecture from the University of Florence, Luca transitioned from competitive sailing to yacht design, combining design culture with his deep sailing expertise.

In 2004, Luca founded Bluegame, a yacht brand born from a visionary concept that defied traditional categorisation. His first yacht, the custom Luja 55′, caught the attention of entrepreneur and offshore powerboat racer Carlo Bonomi at the Monaco Yacht Show, leading to a partnership that launched Bluegame into series production. In 2018, Bluegame became part of the Sanlorenzo Group, significantly enhancing its development opportunities and propelling the brand to exponential growth. Within Sanlorenzo Group, Luca has been instrumental in shaping the company’s forward-thinking portfolio. His strategic vision extends across the Group’s sailing division as well; as a prominent figure within Sanlorenzo’s sailing operations, Luca contributes to the development of Nautor Swan’s next generation of yachts, drawing on his extensive knowledge of both racing and cruising dynamics.

His work includes the groundbreaking BGH-HSV project, a hydrogen-powered hydrofoiling catamaran capable of speeds up to 50 knots with zero emissions that Luca led in 2022. This high-performance vessel served as a chase boat for America’s Cup racing teams, demonstrating Luca’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of sustainable marine technology. Beyond this flagship project, Luca has overseen the development of Bluegame’s expanded portfolio, including the innovative BGM Range—the brand’s first multihull—and the recently launched BGF45, which applies foil technology to create user-friendly, high-performance, sustainable vessels.

Bluegame’s first power multihull – BGM75 (top); BGH-HSV desiged as chase boat for America’s Cup racing team (bottom left); BGX73 (bottom right)

Luca Santella on Mobility Revolution

At BODW 2025, audiences can expect Luca to share insights on how curiosity drives design innovation in the yachting industry. Luca’s presentation will explore topics central to Bluegame’s philosophy, including the integration of sustainability with high-tech engineering, the development of unconventional multipurpose vessels, and the application of advanced technologies such as hydrogen propulsion and hydro-foiling to create the next generation of marine design. His perspectives on merging architectural vision with functional innovation, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and creating owner-centric experiences will resonate with design professionals, architects, luxury brand leaders, and marine industry stakeholders.

“Curiosity is a starting point and one of the key drivers of my work. Alongside passion, risk-taking, and a deep understanding of the market, it shapes true innovation. Curiosity sparks ideas, yet it’s the courage to turn them into reality that transforms design into something meaningful and ahead of its time.” — Luca Santella on “Curiosity”.

Connecting Hong Kong and Italy Through Design

The partnership between Hong Kong and Italy for BODW 2025 underscores the shared values of both design communities. Mr. Joseph Lo, Chairman of HKDC, stated: “Curiosity drives us to contemplate how design can better understand and serve people, and translate this inquiry into strategic thinking and valuable products, which in turn provides a competitive edge for businesses. Our partnership with Italy reminds us that with technology and aesthetics as a starting point, the true kernel of innovation lies in deepening the emotional connections between people and environment”.

Mr. Carmelo Ficarra, Consul General of Italy in Hong Kong and Macau, noted: “Italy is deeply honoured to return for the third time as the year-long Partner Country for Business of Design Week. Through BODW 2025, we look forward to sharing Italy’s globally cherished design philosophy and artisanal heritage, while jointly exploring how ‘Curiosity’ can ignite creative sparks”.

Join the Summit

Tickets for BODW 2025 are now available for the general public to book. Summit passes include 3-day access (December 3–5, 2025), in-person networking opportunities with global speakers, unlimited access to on-demand content, and a complimentary bodw+ Plus membership for one year.

Following his keynote at BODW, Luca will join the Hong Kong International Boat Show 2025 with Sanlorenzo Asia-Pacific from 4–7 December. The event will feature the Asia Premiere of the Sanlorenzo SL86A, alongside the Bluegame BG62. Luca will attend as Sanlorenzo Asia-Pacific’s guest of honour at the exclusive Sundown Soirée cocktail on 5 December from 4–6 PM.