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Interview with Bathco |
Home > Designer Interviews > Bathco |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Bathco (B) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Bathco by clicking here.
FS: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
B: We have been designing, manufacturing and distributing a wide range of bathroom products for more than 40 years, a period of time in which we have crossed borders thanks to our intuition and know how.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
B: Nowadays, looking back at the past, we are proud of being present in the five continents. The secret may have been the fact of incorporate the latest technology in our work but without forgetting our roots. Today more than ever, we have an eye to the future; a future full of opportunities in which we want to continue growing thanks to the knowledge gained day after day and which is still increasing.
FS: What is "design" for you?
B: An important part of Bathco business strategy is the permanent dedication to invest in design, quality and innovation. Based on these three pillars we develop constantly new products in order to resolve customer needs and to adjust us to the tendency changes of the market. Therefore, we collaborate regularly with well-known industrial designers and research centers.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
B: A high-end sanitary ware that will be waterproof, resistant, lightweight and with a natural finish.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
B: Icon washbasin obviously.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
B: A decorated doorknob in porcelain
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
B: Porcelain, cement, stone, solid surface…
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
B: When we show our products in a fair and our clients get surprise.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
B: Functionality and aesthetic.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
B: Proud
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
B: Satisfaction
FS: What makes a design successful?
B: If a design cover some of our need, it is a good design.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
B: Functionality and aesthetic.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
B: Improving the life quality.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
B: More specialization, better results.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
B: Our last exhibition: ISH at Frankfurt, Germany. Next exhibition: Project Lebanon at Beirut, Lebanon.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
B: Picasso said: “When inspiration comes, let me find myself working”.
FS: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
B: We keep up with last trends in interior design and decoration around the world because we have a wide variety of clients. We try to adapt our designs to all of these tastes. On the other hand, we design to satisfy needs in the bathroom.
FS: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
B: We live in Santander (Cantabria), it is a little city located in the North of Spain. Cantabria is a region situated between the mountains “Picos de Europa” and Cantabrian Sea, wherever you are you will see incredible views and very inspirational. We have two ways of getting inspiration: going to a peaceful place and think about new ideas or going to a different cultural activities celebrated in the city: exhibitions, performance, events, etc. Spanish heritage influences our designs but our company is present in more than 70 countries, then we must adapt our products to every cultures.
FS: How do you work with companies?
B: We work with other designers and other companies as if they were colleagues because we have a common target.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
B: A good portfolio is the best representation.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
B: Our company makes a big investment in the research of new materials as well as in design and development of bath articles which offer new possibilities to the users. The aim of the project I+D+I is to develop an innovative material which allows the manufacturing of a high-end sanitary ware that will be waterproof, resistant, lightweight, with a natural finish and developed in Cantabria. This new exclusive range will encourage the Bathco international leading position in the bathroom sector.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
B: Chairs, shower trays, PC, lamps and couch.
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
B: Monotony has a grateful face because it is the result of experience and hard work. We try to combine our work with our personal life thanks to a comfortable timetable. Our tasks are very similar every day: Checking the email, researching of new materials, drawing…
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
B: Fight to get your dreams, don´t wait for chances, look for that!!
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
B: Everything is positive, nothing is negative.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
B: Work, work and work.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
B: Hard-worker and imaginative.
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
B: 3d software, design platforms and social media.
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
B: The experience is the best way to avoid lost time. We try to have productive brainstorming and organize our tasks. When a member has a problem, the team think about it and resolve the question and we go on together.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
B: It depends on the design, some products are developed in a month and others in a year… The client or the market mark the deadline.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
B: If I had to use this product, what I would need?
FS: What was your most important job experience?
B: The current project because is the result of every last experiences.
FS: Who are some of your clients?
B: Interior designers, architects…
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
B: We love design washbasin because this is a piece that everybody use every day. Probably, the washbasin is the first product you see each day when you woke up.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
B: Our company makes a big investment in the research of new materials as well as in design and development of bath articles which offer new possibilities to the users.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
B: We always work as a team.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
B: We are working in a series of microcement washbasin.
FS: How can people contact you?
B: Through our website www.thebathcollection.com
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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