The Importance of Credible Tapware Design

Charles Eames said “The details are not the details. They make the design.”  During the product selection process, designers need to consider whether they place value on supporting authentic and original design or if they do not.

As an experienced importer of high quality kitchen and bathroom fittings, I have been drawn to write this letter to inform readers of issues around plumbing in NZ; to assist them in the specification and selection of fittings and to identify examples of good product design.

Architecture and interior design are great avenues for creativity and New Zealand designers produce some fantastic buildings. Some seek a timeless style using traditional building forms while others are inspired to create unique and interesting structures.  Whatever the design, the result is the sum of the components and the attention that was paid to their assembly and installation.  The selection and specification of materials and fittings is critical to the completed building and to the client’s satisfaction. 

During the product selection process, designers need to consider whether they place value on supporting authentic and original design or if they do not. You have a choice between selecting products from a brand which designs and manufactures their own original products or selecting mass produced replicas of someone else’s design. The authentic product may come with a higher price tag but any additional cost is nearly always returned by the longevity of the well made product.  

The Authentic Design Alliance, formed in Australia and extended to New Zealand, focuses on the difficulties faced by the designers of furniture and objects d’art. Exactly the same situation exists for other industries including the designers of tapware and bathroomware.  In my experience, most design-minded clients want kitchen and bathroom fittings designed and produced by a genuine brand and that represent the qualities of a meticulously designed and engineered product.  They care much more about quality than price, requiring well-designed fittings that are timeless, durable and come from a company that stands behind what it sells.

Architects and interior designers are quick to voice their displeasure when their own designs are copied and reproduced by others once they appear in the public domain. I ask that you apply the same mindset when selecting products for your projects and give your support to brands selling their own original designs.

by Stephan Marshall, Director