Bringing elevated design to mass-market bathroom fixtures
Back when chrome-plated faucets were en vogue and the waterfall design was new on the scene, Design Central collaborated with Delta Faucet Company to conceptualize a product line that would have mass-market appeal—and plenty of staying power. And though design trends have evolved, the Nyla Collection, with its open-channel spout, remains. Its enduring success illustrates the value of our processes, from trend research to blue sky exploration to evaluative testing with consumers. And it’s a process we subsequently worked through on several bathroom fixture projects with Delta, taking inspiration from architecture, fashion, transportation and more to bring elevated design to the customers of big-box retailers.
Client
- Delta Faucet
Industry
- Consumer
Capabilities
- Research
- Product Design
- Prototyping
Objective: Develop a cohesive and elevated line of bathroom fixtures that would have mass-market appeal.
Models improve evaluative testing
Designing a faucet that favors timelessness over trendiness required a thorough review of the consumer’s taste and style preferences. For the Nyla Collection, we dove into trend research before heading into concept development and refinement, processes that resulted in the open-channel spout displaying seamlessly across both the single-handle and two-handle faucets. Our prototyping of the Nyla products is noteworthy, as we created finished appearance models to use in evaluative testing so Delta could gather more accurate feedback from consumers. This was a relatively new practice at the time, and we incorporated it into our other projects with the company.
Multiple industries inspire core line and avant-garde products
Fashion, consumer electronics and even Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater house gave way to concepts for Delta’s core line and avant-garde products. Paralleling Nyla’s success, Delta’s Victorian kitchen and bath faucets dominated the industry for years, and we came alongside them to develop new Victorian two-handled center sets that would draw in more mass-market appeal at retailers like Home Depot and Menards. We also explored higher-end design concepts for boutique hotels and lofts using innovative materials and reimagining water flow. We paid special attention to the grip and feel of each handle, especially during the prototyping phase, as our in-house printing technologies made it possible to touch and experience the faucet. These processes further solidified our kitchen and bath design know-how.