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Cascade Collection Washbasin by Corona |
Home > Winners > Design #63234 >Interview |
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FS: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
OC: Cascade refers to the natural flow of water. The cascade is the inspiring element, a place where water acquires strength and power. The water becomes a molder element instead of a moldable one, it goes from material to instrument, with its natural fall the water obtains energy, and through time, the ability to transform harder materials.
FS: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
OC: The Cascade concept was a challenge for reaching the right appeal, as robust designs tend to mimic old fashion styles. Moreover, the vessel washbasin thick walls and the variable thickness of the overmounted design demanded a new technic to put the products in the kiln and achieve a perfect vitreous finish. The main focus was in achieve a robust product with a modern appeal.
FS: What are your future plans for this award winning design?
OC: Cascade washbasin is recently launched to market. The near future plan is to get a wide market share
FS: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?
OC: The Cascade project started in June 2016 in Bogota and finished in September 2017 in Bogota, it will be launch into the market in May 2018.
FS: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?
OC: This product belongs to complete strategy. thus, it is a commissioned design which is linked to whole bathroom and kitchen product set. So, Cascade is a family of objects connected by a design language.
FS: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?
OC: Cascade washbasin design was created in-house and is produced in our factories, it is a Corona's product
FS: What made you design this particular type of work?
OC: Quality perception is an important aspect to consider at the Latin-American market. The strong and robust aspect is related to long-lasting characteristics. On the other hand, robust style uses to be associated with old fashion products. Therefore, this was a thin line and a great challenge to reach.
FS: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?
OC: The starting point for Cascade design language was a faucet collection designed in collaboration with Dutch design studio GRO. From this work, we defined some key design details that connect the family products. thus, our own work was the influence in order to keep a whole family product strategy with the hallmark of a flowing line, a single journey around the product that ends in the characteristic falling movement of the cascade
FS: Who is the target customer for his design?
OC: Cascade washbasin collection is designed for a wide target customer range. For this reason, the collection is a family of products brought in three different setup configurations: undermounted, overmounted and vessel. Some of this configurations are more oriented to the middle class and some else to institutions. All of them demand the same feature: a high-quality product that looks tough and trustworthy.
FS: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?
OC: The name comes directly from its inspiration the Cascade a place where water acquires strength and power. The water becomes a molder element instead of a moldable one, it goes from material to instrument, with its natural fall the water obtains energy, and through time, the ability to transform harder materials. A strong and robust design inspired by a powerful natural element.
FS: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?
OC: Design Thinking tools were used to come up with insight into this design. The first step was an ethnographic study of Latin American families with a focus on Colombia. The aim of this approach to users was to find valuable aesthetic and usability insights for the product collection. The next research target was the commercial team and installers, with their support, we found key insights about perceive quality and technical requirements that were valuable for the final design. The main insight is the need for a product that looks strong and durable, a life partner for families. Then other design tools like ideation, sketching, and prototyping were run faster thanks to the clarity in the insights.
FS: What is the most unique aspect of your design?
OC: A product that looks strong, robust and durable, a life partner for families and is far away from old fashion aspect. Moreover, design details that enhance usability and cleanability. The flowing surface around the product avoids spilling water. The semi-flat well surface keeps liquids inside the sink and prevents accidents.
FS: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?
OC: The Cascade concept was a challenge. The vessel washbasin thick walls and the variable thickness of the overmounted design demanded a new technic to put the products in the kiln and achieve a perfect vitreous finish. Hence, Engineers team was a fundamental partner for going from concept to mass production.
FS: What is the role of technology in this particular design?
OC: Although the ceramic product has an ancestral production base, our process is always being reinvented for getting the best quality. The Cascade washbasin collection uses 2 different types of techniques for making the products. One is a high-pressure technology from Porvair PLC; in this method, a resin mold is used. The second technique is called BMC (Banco de Moldes Colgandes, in English: banks hanging molds) with plaster molds, this method is implemented to form the vessel design.
FS: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?
OC: The main research is a hunt for essential insights which started with an ethnographic study of Latin American families with a focus on Colombia. The aim of this approach to users was to find valuable aesthetic and usability insights for the product collection. The next research target was the commercial team and installers, with their support, we found key insights about perceive quality and technical requirements that were valuable for the final design. The main insight is the need for a product that looks strong and durable, a life partner for families. All this data is set side by side with financial and marketing reports that help us to know if we are going down the right path.
FS: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?
OC: The main challenges were aesthetical and technical. It was a challenge for reaching the right appeal, as robust designs tend to mimic old fashion styles. And, the vessel washbasin thick walls and the variable thickness of the overmounted design demanded a new technic to put the products in the kiln and achieve a perfect vitreous finish.
FS: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?
OC: We believe in our work, and we are confident of the team talent. When we won our first A'Design award and competition in 2017 with Aluvia faucet collection, we thought that Colombian design is worthy of recognition and it can contribute to global design
FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.
A' Design Award and Competitions grants rights to press members and bloggers to use parts of this interview. This interview is provided as it is; DesignPRWire and A' Design Award and Competitions cannot be held responsible for the answers given by participating designers.
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