Callie Tedder-Hares has just completed her first cruise ship and oh, what a ship it is. Virgin Voyages’  inaugural vessel The Scarlet Lady couldn’t be any more in the public eye, expected by most to be the ‘new face’ of cruise. Although Tedder-Hares was herself new to cruise she was very familiar with the Virgin brand, having been Design Manager for Virgin Atlantic for years before starting her firm, Volume Creative.

Transitioning from sky to sea was, she says, eased by working with ‘great, visionary people’. In some ways, Tedder-Hares’ experience with land-based design has worked as one of her strengths in her cruise design career. Passengers are increasingly eager to enjoy the land-based design experience while on board a cruise ship. She was well-positioned to shake up the cruise design industry.

Although she was new to cruise, Tedder-Hares had already done great things on land. She numbers several awards among her achievements including the AIA New York Award of Merit, Interiors, for her work on JFK Clubhouse Virgin Atlantic and Interior Design Magazine’s Best of Year for Bar/Lounge for EWR Clubhouse Virgin Atlantic.

When Cruise Ship Interiors Awards (CSIA) called for nominations for their Rising Star award it became quickly apparent that Callie Tedder-Hares was the frontrunner. Cruise lines, fellow designers and the supply chain alike all nominated her. It’s clear that during her short time in the cruise interiors community she had made a big impression at every stage in the design process.

She was announced the winner of CSIA Rising Star during the inaugural CSIA ceremony, broadcast virtually due to the current global climate. With Virgin Voyages’ second ship Valiant Lady well underway, and Tedder-Hares and the Volume Creative team scheduled to continue working with Virgin Voyages, we know that she will continue to make a splash in the cruise interiors industry.