Bringing Faucets to Life at Sketchfest

Moen's Global Design Team Finds Inspiration in Italy

NORTH OLMSTED, OH--(Marketwired - Sep 30, 2014) - ... The roundness of a cherub's cheek in a granite statue… the intricacy of the column details in a century-old monument… the beautiful arc of the dome in a downtown cathedral… While these structural elements may be commonplace to those who call Italy home, these details did not go unnoticed by Moen's Global Design team.  Italian architecture has widely influenced the architecture of the world; and earlier this year, the Global Design team at Moen capitalized on all the country has to offer, allowing the architecture and landscape to stimulate the creative process. The locale served as the backdrop for Sketchfest -- an annual, inspirational, offsite event focused entirely on generating new product designs. 

What began as a tool to build team spirit amongst the designers, Sketchfest has evolved into a forward-looking, creative think tank that fuels the thoughtfully designed products Moen brings to market. As 2014 marked the 10^th anniversary of Moen's Sketchfest, the Global Design Team thought it was only fitting to celebrate this milestone while gaining fresh perspective. They traveled to Milan and Como, Italy and spent a few days finding inspiration for the newest kitchen and bathroom fixtures within a colorful and romantic setting.

"If you talk about design in Europe, you usually talk about Italy," said Jennifer Sedwick, senior industrial designer, Moen. "You can see things from several hundreds of years ago and easily realize how those details are translated into housewares and furniture… and faucets."

Before retreating to the countryside in Como, the team attended Salone del Mobile Milano at Milan Design Week, a venue that showcases the best interior and industrial design has to offer. To say this world-class event left the group inspired would be an understatement; the experience allowed them to absorb the latest trends and ideas that would then freely flow onto paper once Sketchfest commenced.

"The serene and peaceful atmosphere of Como really allowed the team to uncover form exploration and the diverse thinking that only sketching provides," explains Chris Gilbert, Principal Designer at Moen. "Sketchfest for us is a shared, communal process that brings together designers from around the world. We're all invested in this experience because we believe that together we can achieve something that is far greater than any one of us alone can accomplish."