Interview with Marc Newson
We had the pleasure of sitting down with Marc Newson to discuss his thoughts on the Caroma Marc Newson Bathroom Collection.
How did you and your team cope with the challenge of designing twenty-three pieces at the one time?
We did it in manageable chunks- we started with the bigger pieces and simultaneously started working on the tap and gradually worked our way through the whole thing - we had to keep up a fast pace. Caroma were able to simultaneously engineer these products. Every day there was constant feedback of information and it worked very well.
Has Caroma engineering met your requirements?
Very much so - I think the engineering is in a league of its own. The quality of the build of the products and materials is superb - these products will essentially last a lifetime.
The range is intended to be affordable. Was this an important consideration during the design process?
It’s something I always aspire to do - I love the idea that these products are accessible. Caroma and I both felt this was an opportunity to create products that are accessible to everyone.
What do you look for in collaboration?
In the situation with Caroma, it was a really seamless interaction that we had. I was very familiar with the brand; I grew up with this stuff like most other Australians have. I have a connection to people in the company who hold senior positions and it has streamlined the process as there aren’t a million people making decisions.
Was it challenging to produce this collection in a relatively short period of time?
Absolutely, the whole team was firing on all cylinders. It was an extraordinary effort - everyone involved got behind this and put in a lot of extra work.
Is there any piece in the collection that particularly stands out for you?
As a testament to the range, in general, I can say that there isn’t really one piece. Different pieces do different things for me. What I like the most is that it hangs together as a collection and there is a consistency in the level of design, engineering and production.
How did you approach the design?
It was understanding the brief and familiarising myself with the culture of the company, how they work, what they are capable of, and understanding what they wanted from me. Getting the big items on the way to begin with was an important part of the process, everything else followed after that.
Was it important to you that Caroma is an Australian company?
I think honestly, that’s one of the most gratifying parts of the project, knowing that it is made, designed and engineered here. It is gratifying to know Caroma has such a strong presence in the market place. It is important for me to be able to work with a company that will throw their weight behind a project like this.
What are your hopes for this collection?
I would love to see this in commercial environments and domestic environments. It will be very telling the day I walk into a Sydney hotel bathroom and see these products, that’s a moment I will be looking forward to.