Iconic bathroom manufacturer wins Australia’s highest design honour
Australian iconic bathroom maker, Caroma, with renowned Australian industrial designer Marc Newson, has won the 2014 Good Design Award of the Year for its 22-piece bathroom collection comprising toilets, tapware, showers, baths and a urinal.
Presented by Good Design Australia, the coveted Award was announced at a gala event in Sydney on May 28 as part of the 2014 Good Design Festival, in association in VIVID Sydney.
Dr Brandon Gien, CEO of Good Design Australia said judges felt that the Caroma Marc Newson Bathroom Collection exemplified how the process of design thinking can be applied to a longstanding everyday product to resolve challenges and issues and reach a beautifully designed outcome.
“This a stunning example of an iconic brand taking design seriously and placing it at the core of their business strategy. The outcome is a beautifully resolved design language across the entire suite of products in this range. The outcomes of this design project will extend the brand value of Caroma and reinforce their commitment to original design and cutting edge innovation in what is a very competitive market segment,” said the judges.
“This bathroom range is a great example of how a good designer, with the enthusiastic support of a determined client, can enhance the usefulness and appeal of just about any product. The range is exquisitely designed and made. Caroma has gone the full distance and followed through to the last detail. These products function smoothly and are beautifully resolved – certainly a great example of “form following function”. The materials, graphics and mechanisms are up to date and the execution is faultless,” the judges commented.
Dr Gien said this year’s Good Design Awards and Good Design Festival have focused on highlighting how design can play a key role in helping businesses, manufacturers and service providers thrive – not just survive – in a competitive marketplace.
“So many products in this year’s program were clearly born from a planned and considered design process that sought to not only create a beautiful, stylish and functional product or service, but also address business and commercial challenges to help the business grow and prosper,” Dr Gien said.
“It’s great to see so many companies investing in design in this way and maintaining such a high standard. This year we were proud to recognise 77 products with a Good Design Award.”