How do you approach the challenge of designing a new product?
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It all starts with the analytical phase, then the creative process and, finally, intuitive form finding. The main part of the work is always to observe and to detect needs. In fact, the final product usually looks nothing like the initial sketch. When designing, you have the chance to try out different variants and sometimes you can be surprised at what you find. That’s crucial to the creative process. For example, we like to work with polystyrene models as they enable a great degree of abstraction. This approach helps us to keep our overall goal in view. Some things are just not possible on paper.
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Is good design about taking risks?
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We experiment a lot. However, the aim is always to create a design classic. Products that will stand the test of time and reflect people’s needs. All around us, life is becoming more hectic and people are looking for somewhere to retreat, for security and calm. We try to keep this in mind when designing our products. I think it's unreasonable to follow short-lived trends. As designers, we have, in many ways, a great responsibility. This extends, among other things, to material resources, the utilisation of production capacities and solutions for our customers’ serial product lines. It also applies to visual design approaches that, at the end of the day, have to fit a wide variety of different architectural settings – and appeal to many users. We are not interested in short-term trends.

Phoenix and Duravit have been working together successfully since 1993. How would you describe the collaboration?

Duravit product development has always focused on high quality and timeless product design. The developments are highly complex and are the result of teamwork since they cannot be achieved by one person alone. In the sanitary area in particular, details are extremely important. Duravit requires nothing less than maximum quality and practicality, which makes collaboration very demanding. However, critical comments are welcome as taking these on board is the only way to achieve high-quality and innovative bathroom solutions that can also satisfy discerning design juries and become bestsellers.