32
www.thedesignermagazine.com
Andreas Haug, co-founder of design studio Phoenix Design, shares the secrets of its success - and explains how German design has changed for the better
BEHIND
each of the kitchen and bathroom
products we get so excited about on these pages is a wealth of design talent. One of the more prolific design studios in the kitchen and bathroom sectors in recent times is German firm Phoenix Design, which has developed long-standing relationships with a number of the bigger brands in the market. The studio has won more than 400
design awards during the last 21 years. Andreas Haug and Tom Schönherr, the company’s founders and owners, define their design philosophy as an attitude. Among the fundamental values of this attitude are ethics and aesthetics, economy and ecology, precision and innovation. ‘Logic, Morality and Magic’ is Phoenix Design’s magic formula. The aim of any design is to create products which convince their users with their logic and function, which have a user- friendly and responsible design. Phoenix counts among its clients
brands such as Hansgrohe, Gaggenau, Miele, Siemens, Alape, Kaldewei, Duravit and Hüppe to name a few. Designer asked co-founder Andreas
Haug to share some of the secrets of his studio’s significant success over the years.
DESIGNER: PHOENIX DESIGN HAS WORKED EXTENSIVELY THROUGHOUT THE BATHROOM INDUSTRY. TO WHAT EXTENT DO YOU HAVE TO ADAPT YOUR WORKING PROCESSES TO FIT WITH A DIFFERENT CULTURE FROM, SAY, DURAVIT TO LAUFEN TO HÜPPE? HOW DIFFICULT A CHALLENGE CAN THIS BE? ANDREAS HAUG: Each client is different and unique. We also approach our various projects with this attitude. Clients such as Hansgrohe, Duravit and Hüppe have their own history and pursue their own aims. We try to understand and emphasize these special features. We always endeavour to create one
whole from a company’s many facets. When the products we designed are finally ready for the market, this attitude and the culture of each of our clients should be reflected in them – that’s our aim.
DESIGNER: WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR KITCHEN AND BATHROOM DESIGN? ARE THERE KEY TRENDS OR DESIGN DIRECTIONS THAT YOU EXPECT TO SEE EMERGING? HAUG: Bathroom and kitchen products have a long life cycle compared to other products. That means they have to be durable and nice to look at even after many years. We have to ask ourselves: What
requirements do people have in ten or fifteen years? There has been a huge change in bathroom design from the functional wet cell towards a space to feel at home in during the past years – and we as Phoenix Design largely contributed to this development. Now increasingly there are also issues concerning ecology and sustainability to be considered. Therefore, we are working on concepts enabling us to be more economical and efficient with the valuable resource of water. Intuitive operation of products, safety, comfort and increasing requirements concerning material and quality are also gaining in importance. Therefore, we
Above: Ecostat Thermostatic shower mixer for Hansgrohe Below: Metris tap for Hansgrohe
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68