DESIGN

AN INTERVIEW WITH THE LADY WHO DESIGNED LOCARNO

Nicole Wyss from our design team explains amongst other things in the interview how long they worked on the design of the new Locarno line and what challenges they faced.

How long did you work on the design of the new Locarno line?

From the first sketch to the finished Locarno line, its development took 15 months.

What were the steps you went through in doing this?

With the aid of sketches, models and 3D visualisations, we worked out the design, shape and appearance of the cookware series. When we were doing this, all the time we were taking account of our target customers, price and technical feasibility. The engineering team supported us with their material knowledge and in working out the technical details. For example, what the optimum wall width is for securing the handle, or how the junction with the pan had to be worked so that the frying pan can cook in a stable and safe manner. We discuss the completed drawings with Production so that we can make final adjustments before the series is produced.

What makes the design stand out?

The appearance of Locarno combines a reduced and straight-lined appearance with a great impression and geniality. It is this very combination of «modern» and «emotional» that makes Locarno pleasing to the eye.

What were the challenges you faced?

The challenge existed precisely in this combination of a reduced appearance and genial impression as described above. If the design becomes too straight-lined, it no longer appeals to most people. If the appearance is too soft and emotional, our target customer no longer likes it. In designing Locarno, we had to find this tight middle path.