November 11, 2019

Whether above basin, apron style or deep basin, sinks for both the kitchen and bath are often playing the star of the show when it comes to design. A variety of standout finishes, sleek colors and fun shapes are making the sink less of a utilitarian element and more like a piece of art. KBB spoke with three sink designers to find out more about what it’s like designing these prominent fixtures.

The Job Description
“As a product designer, I care for both the functional and aesthetic demands of making daily living convenient. Being creative for me basically means questioning things and situations over and over again, and I am really eager to identify the customer’s needs and habits – especially for the future. 

– Brigitte Ziemann, head of global design, Blanco

“I – along with our design team – am responsible for studying the existing market of kitchen and bath sinks to determine limitations of existing products and some of the features and designs customers are looking for. Often, this is from feedback we receive from customers of our existing products. Based on this, we design our new products and sometimes redesign and perfect existing products.”

– Brandy Douglas, Ruvati

“Normally I’m involved from the beginning in the product development process, so besides designing the final product, I usually play a big role in the conception of a collection, the idea behind it, the storytelling, etc. I work for international brands, and of course the process varies from company to company.”

– Christian Haas, Villeroy & Boch

“The Culina S Kitchen Faucet, which I designed in 2008 for Blanco, is still one of my absolute favorite products. The clear, precise shape works in harmony with the noble material combination, making it timelessly elegant.” – Ziemann, Blanco

Challenges of the Process
“We find big challenges especially in urban areas, where the compression of living space leads to space problems in the furnishing and thus also in the kitchen design. It takes a lot of sensitivity and creative solutions to equip small kitchens practically and beautifully.”

– Ziemann, Blanco

“There has been very little innovation in kitchen sinks over the last decade. As such, customers don’t have much of an expectation in innovation. One of the challenges is coming up with bold and innovative designs and features that customers can understand and adopt.”

– Douglas, Ruvati

“It is tricky coming up with intelligent solutions for everyday tasks and problems. I try to create refined and elegant products that stand the test of time. With all the changes and technical issues during the product development process, it is often challenging, and the biggest task is to keep as much from the initial idea and spirit as possible.”

– Haas, Villeroy & Boch

“The epiGranite Workstation Sink from Ruvati is made of granite composite sourced from Germany. We designed a workstation sink with this material and incorporated accessories made of glass, wood and stainless steel.” – Douglas, Ruvati

Finding Inspiration
“On the one hand, certain creativity techniques and structures are necessary. Together with my team, I have built up an annual revolving trend report, which gives us the opportunity to identify trend developments at an early stage and derive the right ideas from them. On the other hand, many ideas also arise from the problems in our personal environment. We are also inspired by our involvement with architecture and interior design, especially when it comes to lifestyle trends, materials and colors.”

– Ziemann, Blanco

“We derive our inspirations from the material. Traditionally, kitchen sinks have always been made with either stainless steel or cast iron. We look for novel materials in the industry that can be used to craft a kitchen sink that is better both in form and function. Sometimes these are materials that can only be sourced from specific regions in the world. We also look for materials that can interact together. This helps us design accessories that fit seamlessly with the sinks.”

– Douglas, Ruvati

“In general, I travel a lot and find inspiration in architecture, different cultures and their people, cities and art. As a designer, my senses are always open to new and stimulating things, including outside work. Of course, my job takes me to many international trade fairs, which very quickly give you a feeling for trends and relevance. Today, it is no longer simply a question of a product or a collection but about telling a story that reflects the core essence of the brand and series.

– Haas, Villeroy & Boch

The Antheus Collection from Villeroy & Boch reflects classic style elements inspired by Art Deco and Bauhaus styles. The Antheus washbasins are reminiscent of 1920s ceramics and are made from TitanCeram, a proprietary ceramic material developed by Villeroy & Boch to allow for sharply defined edges and a radius with thin walls.

The Future of Sink Design
“All in all, we see great potential in more convenient solutions, like easy-to-clean surfaces and perhaps higher demands on intelligent, digital functionalities. We also see a high-quality level in material and processing and also sustainability-oriented concepts.”

– Ziemann, Blanco

“With both kitchen and bath sinks, there is a move toward simplistic styles – clean, straight lines, gently rounded corners and wide and flat surfaces. At the same time, there is also an element of practicality that dictates the design. After all, the sink is the most used fixture both in the kitchen and in the bathroom. Any smart way to add to the utility of the sink is always well received by customers.”

– Douglas, Ruvati

“Thanks to material innovations, completely new shapes are possible. For me as a designer, this fact allows me to work very detailed and refined on the shapes of washbasins and sinks. They are now clearly defined, and the edges are sharper.”

– Haas, Villeroy & Boch