Nationally acclaimed for her design projects in the marine interior design, high-end residential, and hospitality markets, My Nguyen is known industry-wide for her diverse talent. After completing degrees in interior design and fine art, My joined Holland America Group in a newly created leadership role, where she was tasked with forming an in-house design team to oversee the interior refurbishment and maintenance of Holland America Line and Seabourn’s fleet. My is also the head designer responsible for staterooms onboard Holland America Line’s newbuild vessels.
Now, My will take to the stage at the world’s first Cruise Ship Interiors Expo event in Miami. See My moderate a panel of fellow industry experts on Thursday, June 20 in the session ‘Extending the Life Span of a Cruise Ship’, before speaking in the ‘Women’s Leadership Forum’.
Thanks for speaking with the Cruise Ship Interiors Expo team today! Tell us about your current role and what it entails on a day-to-day basis?
I lead a team of seven project managers with interior design backgrounds. Our team manages, designs, and co-ordinates the interior refurbishments of 19 ships from A to Z. My day to day is never the same; I’m either reviewing designs, providing input, strategizing, conceptualizing or budgeting. I’m also in a lot of meetings when I’m not travelling.
A designer from Holland America was desperate for help and came to my portfolio review, which was down the street from Holland America’s headquarters. She hired me as her intern 17 years ago and the rest is history.
What inspired you to venture into the marine industry?
I happened to be in the right place at the right time. A designer from Holland America was desperate for help and came to my portfolio review, which was down the street from Holland America’s headquarters. She hired me as her intern 17 years ago and the rest is history.
Can you tell us about any key opportunities or challenges faced by the cruise ship interiors industry at present?
As the fastest growing segment in the leisure market, the industry is building and refurbishing at an aggressive rate. There is a great need to diversify products on the market related to FF&E. We are always looking for beautiful and durable products that also pass IMO, and we need a lot of them. The key opportunity available is to create more variety. The challenge is always time. You can get anything at any price point if you have time. There is a great opportunity to broaden the options of in-stock materials at a good price point that pass IMO.
Tell us about a recent project that was particularly challenging, interesting, or unique in some way.
In a recent refit, my team replaced every sofa in the staterooms with new ones. The sofas needed to be custom designed in a modular format so they could fit through the doors and corridors. We had 12 days to replace 850 sofas, (and to remove the old ones), which took a team of 30 professional installers, 100+ crew members, and over 40 cargo containers. This was only one project of many which my team managed at the same time.
We have a social responsibility to reduce our carbon footprint and create a luxury vacation experience that future generations can also enjoy.
In the cruise interiors industry, forecasting trends for the years ahead is vital to stay on top of the game. What trends are you expecting to emerge in the next few years? This could be anything from new lighting solutions to new materials or sustainable solutions and beyond!
I see a trend towards more sustainability in the market specific to marine design, be it in the energy source that runs the ship or the materials we use when designing spaces. We have a social responsibility to reduce our carbon footprint and create a luxury vacation experience that future generations can also enjoy.
Using just three words, how would you describe the current state of the cruise interiors industry?
Hospitality on steroids!
Come June you’ll be speaking in the Cruise Ship Interiors Conference. Without giving too much away, can you tell us what we might expect from your session?
Expect a great group of leaders that all have something worth hearing.
I am excited for everything related to marine interior design to be under one roof, connecting with peers, and meeting new people that are interested in learning more about this great industry.
Finally, we have to ask, what are you most looking forward to at the inaugural Cruise Ship Interiors Expo Miami?
I am excited for everything related to marine interior design to be under one roof, connecting with peers, and meeting new people that are interested in learning more about this great industry.