At first glance, commercial aircraft design might seem completely unrelated to yacht design. But look closer, and you’ll see just how much each discipline can in fact inform the other. Especially when you look through the lens of Jacques Pierrejean, a designer who’s worked on a myriad of projects in countless industries. Commercial, private, large, small, industrial, boutique; this man has done it all, and one of the crucial lessons he learned early on was always to carry knowledge from one undertaking forward to the next.

When he started in the commercial aviation industry, Jacques was able to refine his understanding of good seat design; he learned good ergonomics, seat engineering for convertible seats, and the general needs of customers in an airplane. And when the offers from the private aviation industry starting coming in, his experience and seat designs were welcome, even necessary. His elegant creations found their way onto his private aircraft.

And luckily the contamination of ideas from commercial to private aviation wasn’t a unidirectional affair. The task of designing for private jets also gave Pierrejean more wiggle room, more leeway to explore new ideas. These projects were playgrounds, giving him the chance to experiment with outlandish concepts in terms of materials, lighting, space, and seating. And if he could accomplish that on one jet, then he had a proof of concept to work with, which he could bring back to the commercial airlines. For example, the conceptual use of individual space of the private jet was transferred to what is now the iconic First Class “Mini-Suite” of Emirates Airlines. The design continues to live on in all future projects, and this is how Jacques Pierrejean managed to put his mark on the industry.

But he didn’t stop there. 

On beginning the project YAS, a gorgeous 141-meter gigayacht, his previous experience working on aircraft was invaluable. When recently asked about his approach, he thought for a minute: “Ok, this schematic of the table, this schematic of the seat should be used for an aircraft – but why not for a yacht?”. 

This might seem obvious, but it’s not always so easy with two modes of transportation that are so different. And so adaptation is always a crucial part of the game. Ideas never come fully-fledged in a box ready to go. So, while Jacques’ large and varied repertoire of doors, lighting equipment, and understanding of different materials have come in handy, so has his ability to change things on the fly.

His experience with the railway industry is no different, the same principles of space and motion applying equally to the universe of railed travel as to the world of aircraft he cut his teeth on. And the trains he has designed are better for his experience in such diverse fields. After forty years designing, the drive to build beautiful, functional interiors still shines bright.

Just like all of the perpetually-moving vehicles he has made designs for, Jacques buzzes from destination to destination, bringing new ideas to the table with each project, always continuing to cross-pollinate the various industries of locomotion. Luxury travel on the ground, on the seas, and through the sky all turn out to have many things in common. Space in a moving vehicle has principles that one must follow. But look extra close, and you’ll notice one more thing all those industries share: Pierrejean’s imprint.