ICONA 70 WINS THE SPECIAL INNOVATION AWARD AT THE DESIGN INNOVATION AWARD 2026
Following its world debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival and its success at the World Yachts Trophies 2026, ICONA 70 earns another prestigious international recognition.
Just a few weeks after making its world debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival and receiving the Best Exterior Design award at the World Yachts Trophies 2026, Icona 70 adds another prestigious recognition to its journey: the “Special Award for Outstanding Innovation” at the seventh edition of the Design Innovation Award.
Promoted by Confindustria Nautica and the Genoa International Boat Show, the award was presented on the occasion of the 66th Genoa International Boat Show and represents an important acknowledgment of Icona 70’s innovative approach to contemporary yacht design.
The recognition carries particular significance as one of only three Special Awards presented by the jury, confirming the strength and originality of the inaugural project by “Icona inspired by Mangusta.”
The new brand is the expression of a shared vision between the Balducci family and Stefano Arlunno, co-founders and partners of EFFEBI NEW PROJECT, the company behind the initiative.
A new vision for the sub-24-metre segment created with the ambition of moving beyond established formulas and exploring new perspectives within the sub-24-metre yachting segment, Icona 70 draws inspiration from Mangusta’s pioneering spirit.
The project brings together design research, automotive culture and nautical heritage to introduce a new interpretation of the contemporary yacht one in which performance, aesthetics, functionality and the onboard experience are conceived as part of a unified vision.
Designer Igor Lobanov, who previously developed the styling language of the Mangusta REV range, approached the exterior, interior, ergonomics and helm station as a single integrated project, interpreting Icona 70 as a true sculpture in motion.
Its pure, distinctive lines are combined with volumes and living spaces more commonly associated with larger yachts, complemented by a series of innovative technical and design solutions.
Among its defining features is the curved-glass windshield inspired by fighter jets, which contributes to the yacht’s unmistakable profile and reinforces the close connection between design and performance.
Further innovations include a side garage and a highly transformable stern. Through the opening of the side wings, the aft area expands to create an impressive 40-square-metre platform on the water, conceived as a space centered around people, interaction and the experience of life at sea.
Another milestone for Icona 70 the Special Award for Outstanding Innovation at the Design Innovation Award 2026 marks another important milestone in the story of Icona 70, following its international debut and recent design recognition.
More than an award, it confirms the direction of a project conceived to challenge traditional yachting conventions and explore new possibilities in design, functionality and the relationship between yacht and sea.
For Icona inspired by Mangusta, this latest recognition represents another step in a journey that has only just begun with its sights firmly set on the future.
