It's Not Just for Popcorn Anymore

As we are extremely invested in the world of kitchen appliances here at KBCULTURE, I'm sharing this video as a sort of public service. As you may have noticed, there has been a recent interest in the capabilities of the microwave oven. Watch and learn....

Talking Shop

Patrick Schiavone, vice president, Global Consumer Design of Whirlpool Corporation, recently answered a few questions for 'Talking Shop', a recurring feature at KBCULTURE.

As a designer, my greatest responsibility is...
To create desire. At the entrance to our studio in Benton Harbor, there is a plaque that expresses our mantra, 'Create Desire'. This simple ideal is instilled in every one of my team members and is something that all of our products aim to accomplish.

An industry trend that I'm watching is...
I am looking at global colors, finishes, and materials. With studios in Shanghai; New Delhi; Milan; Monterrey, Mexico; Sao Paulo; and the US, our design team is able to see what designers around the world are focusing on.

One of my creative touchstones is...
As a designer, I use all our different disciplines to execute our vision, including craftsmanship, design benchmarking, usability, and sensory fulfillment [sound, lighting, feel].

My secret design ambition is...
The ultimate design dream for me would be to design my own home.

The best part of my job is...
When my designers take me further than I imagined we could go. Working with a global design team means that my designers are able to see things from different perspectives and build off of each other, creating a finished product that not only meets the original concept, but far exceeds our initial vision.

Talking Shop

Surjit Kalsi, Chairman of Capital Cooking Equipment, recently answered a few questions for 'Talking Shop', a recurring feature at KBCULTURE.

How did you get your start in the appliance industry?
On a cold night in London in 1957, while I was preparing for my medical degree exams, I found myself without a roof over my head or a warm bed to sleep in. Luckily, I was able to take shelter in a friend's home and bought an evening newspaper to look for new opportunities. The first job posting I saw was for a lab assistant with Main Gas Appliance, a company that manufactured gas ranges and space heaters. I loved the job so much that it became my new career path. It was the catalyst to my thinking about and exploring new and improved methods of designing gas ranges and burners for appliances.

What is it about designing appliances that appeals to you?
It is so interesting to see your ideas materialize in front of you when you apply them to the daily life of a consumer. It also amazes me that these very ideas have the power to revolutionize the entire world market.

Is there a specific innovation you've developed of which you're particularly proud?

Although I am proud of everything I have developed, the Culinarian Series is definitely garnering a lot of attention. It offers the highest Btu output—23,000—available on an open burner. Going back farther, it would have to be the product that really set my career in a new direction: I designed the very first Viking range.

Who does the cooking at your home?
My wife. She has written a cookbook called Cuisine of Lucknow.

What do you see as the new frontier in cooking technology?
The sky's the limit.

Talking Shop

Valentin Tijeras, Director of Product Development for Cosentino, recently answered a few questions for 'Talking Shop', a recurring feature at KBCULTURE.

As a designer, my greatest responsibility is...
Finding the balance between designing appealing products for our customers in a manner that is profitable yet environmentally responsible and sustainable.

One of Cosentino's creative strengths is...
The ability to walk in our customers' shoes.

A current project I'm focusing on is...
I'm always exploring new and innovative ways of using our materials.

An industry trend that I'm watching is...
Customers are smarter. They are more educated and demand more of us.

The best part of my job is...
It's endless fun. I love what I do.

Talking Shop

Judd Lord, Director of Industrial Design for Brizo and Delta Faucet brands, recently answered a few questions for 'Talking Shop', a recurring feature at KBCULTURE.

As a designer, my greatest responsibility is...
To interpret unmet needs and to influence, in a positive and responsible way, people's everyday lives through the objects I design.

An industry trend I'm watching is...
There are several. One is 'mass customization'—an oxymoron, to be sure, but it's the best way I've come up with to describe how mass-production manufacturers are providing consumers choices that are tailored to their personal tastes; that is, allowing a customer to customize a product aesthetically and/or functionally so it suits their wants and needs. It plays off people's innate desire for change and innovation. And it's heavily reliant on ever-improving manufacturing methods and creative uses of materials; a process newer generations are going to expect.

Another issue is aging in place. Architectural spaces and the objects that 'inhabit' them have to allow us to live as independently as possible for as long as possible. Design done correctly is beneficial to all, whether you're 5 or 95 years old.

Finally, water conservation is important. As stewards in the dispensing of this most precious commodity, there is growing attention being paid by us and the industry as a whole to its more efficient use. For example, the flow rate for all our lavs has been dialed back from the industry standard of 2.5 gallons per minute to 1.5 GPM. We've also invested a tremendous amount of R&D resources into our shower technologies, to enhance the bather's experience while using much less water.

The best part of my job is...
Working with a talented team in the reinterpretation of mundane, everyday objects in such a way that it makes end users rethink a product's importance and the benefits it's brought into their lives.

Talking Shop

Mick De Giulio, owner of de Giulio Kitchen Design in Chicago, recently answered a few questions for 'Talking Shop', a recurring feature at KBCULTURE.

As a designer, my greatest responsibility is...
The principal responsibility of a designer is to always be thoughtful. Each design challenge presents an opportunity to improve people's surroundings and enhance their lives. This means going beyond the obvious or what may be asked for initially. We also have the responsibility to give our clients the very best of our efforts each and every time.

One of my creative touchstones is...
Finding the right combinations. I like to think that I am not afraid to put things together in unique ways; for me, that means mixing a lot of ideas, materials or vocabularies which can be harmonious or not. When ideas or materials are mixed, there is an exponential increase of the possibilities.

A current project I am exploring is...
I am working on a book about kitchen design.

If I had a week off from the studio, I would...
Just being with my family is the first thing that comes to mind. Sometimes just doing nothing helps regenerate the creative spirit; other times, it might be better to get away to a different environment to help unwind and see things in a different, more relaxed way.

Talking Shop

Gray Uhl, Director of Design for American Standard, recently answered a few questions for 'Talking Shop', a new feature at KBCULTURE.

As a designer, my greatest responsibility is...
To communicate the future. My design team and the engineering team here are working on many new product solutions. We as a society face environmental and conservation challenges; I believe it is important to let everyone know what is possible and that there is more cause for optimism than may be apparent.

One of my creative touchstones is...
The automotive industry. I find that your car is the only product that you interact with on both physical and emotional levels as closely as you do with your bathroom. These two industries also face similar challenges in conservation and environmental arenas.

A current project I'm exploring is...
What routines people have when they take a bath or shower. We've been traveling around the country conducting research interviews in people's homes. One thing I've learned is that we all want the same comfort and convenience, no matter how diverse the sample group may be.

If I had a week off from the studio, I would...
Hike part of the Appalachian Trail.

Talking Shop

John Troxell, Director of Design for Wood-Mode Fine Custom Cabinetry, recently answered a few questions for 'Talking Shop', a new feature at KBCULTURE.

As a designer, my greatest responsibility is...
To fulfill the client's needs and wants to the best of my ability using creative solutions to provide a positive, enhanced living experience. This applies to both the functional aspects of the design and the aesthetic details, as well.

One of my creative touchstones is...
I don't know that there's just one, but a whole range of them. I tend to soak up images and ideas from all of the places I've visited in person; then there's material from magazines and books, and museums and works of art—and even nature. It's more a sense of the trends I see around me as well as the relevant historical background.

A current project I'm exploring is...
Actually, I'm focusing on fine-tuning the materials and details on a series of design-concept rooms.

If I had a week off from the studio, I would...
That's hard for me to say. I suppose I would like to explore some new places, or read, or engage in some 'creative play.' Or maybe just kick back and do nothing.

Talking Shop

Paul Flowers, Senior Vice President of Design for Grohe, recently answered a few questions for 'Talking Shop', a new feature at KBCULTURE.

As a designer, my greatest responsibility is...

To create meaningful experiences which enhance people's daily lives and consider the fragile environment in which we live.

One of my creative touchstones is...

People...share and discuss a good idea with another person and it will grow into an even better idea. Listen and watch people carefully and all the answers to the problems we face in our daily lives can be found.

A current project I'm exploring is...

"Digitalization of the bathroom", utilizing innovative technologies to reduce water consumption yet enhance the bathing and showering experience.

If I had a week off from the studio, I would...

Spend it with my daughter, Amber, painting sharks [her favorite fish].