Detailed Wirevista

WIREVISTA

Duration: 3 months

Project: Master's Independent Research Project

Wirevista has revolutionised minimal sanitaryware by blending innovative features with unique, elegant design elements, setting a new standard for modern luxury.

Most luxury brands offer similar designs in sanitaryware, with the trend toward 'minimalism' limiting innovation. This approach often focuses solely on material variations, such as stones, marble, and textured finishes, leaving little room for true creative exploration.

Market Research and Understanding.

¹ A luxury bathroom needs to have a certain level of opulence and elegance. It is not just about the fittings and fixtures, but also about the design elements that make it stand out. ² In the world of hospitality, toilets have the power to transform the customer’s experience, for better or worse. ³ It is generally agreed that for a bathroom to be considered ‘luxury’ there must be a combination of features that create a look and feel that goes beyond the average bathroom.

Ideation

Among various sanitaryware products, the focus was placed on wash basins. With most brands producing similar designs, creating a truly unique concept posed a significant challenge. The limited scope for innovation, beyond adding textures to existing shapes, required a fresh and creative approach.

The wireform design stands apart from conventional products in the sanitaryware segment. Unlike typical designs with solid surfaces covering the structure, this concept highlights the beauty of a product's structural skeleton, proving it can be both functional and visually striking without a fully covered exterior.

In the realm of design language, both designers and customers frequently gravitate toward minimalist styles. While minimalism emphasises simplicity and elegance, it can sometimes restrict opportunities for creative exploration.

Wireform designs bring a unique appeal by showcasing the internal structure without compromising functionality. By exposing the product's skeleton, these designs deliver a distinctive aesthetic that stands out in the market.

6 Principles of Wireform Design

Proximity: Even with multiple products in a room, wireframe designs ensure the space feels open and unconstrained.

Application: The wireform structure minimises visual clutter, creating a more open and spacious appearance compared to traditional solid-surface products.
Context: Luxury sanitaryware often features larger designs, which can make bathrooms feel visually confined. Wireform designs counter this by creating an illusion of airiness and a more expansive atmosphere.

Transparency: The transparent design creates a light, airy feel, giving the impression of a more spacious and open room.

Application: The see-through structure allows light to pass through, enhancing openness and visually lightening the overall design.
Context: Transparency in wireframe design ensures that bathrooms feel bright and airy, counteracting the typical heaviness of traditional solid-surface sanitaryware.

Simplicity: The design follows a minimalist approach, emphasising clean lines and exploring new ways of creating functional elegance.

Application: Wireform design eliminates excess elements, focusing only on the essentials that blend form and function seamlessly.
Context: Wireform design introduces a unique design language within the minimalist framework, setting it apart with its distinctive approach.

Aesthetic: The design highlights the product's skeletal structure, proving it can be more visually appealing than a solid surface.

Application: The wireform design highlights the structural beauty and craftsmanship, offering a unique visual appeal that sets it apart from traditional designs.
Context: This innovative approach enhances both the aesthetics and functionality of sanitaryware, establishing a new standard for luxury and elegance in bathroom design.

Versatility: The design seamlessly fits into different spaces and styles, offering broad applicability in any setting.

Application: The wireform design can be finished in any material, making it suitable for any luxury environment, from modern to traditional.
Context: Its adaptable nature allows wireform sanitaryware to be customised for diverse interior design themes, enhancing both its appeal and functionality in various luxury settings.

Functionality: The design allows for the inclusion of additional features and functionalities, all while maintaining a minimalist aesthetic

Application: The open structure accommodates integrated storage solutions and other functional elements, enhancing usability while preserving a sleek design.
Context: Wireform sanitaryware offers extra space for practical features, such as storage compartments, without compromising the overall aesthetic, blending beauty with functionality.

Innovative Wireform Design for Wash Basin, Bath Tube and Commode.

The bath tub frame was carefully designed to ensure user comfort while stepping in, with adjustments made to the width to maintain the curve without compromising usability. Designing the commode was particularly challenging due to the numerous factors involved. To achieve the desired dimensions, the commode's body was minimised, while the resting area was widened for added comfort. Both the bath tub and commode are conceptual designs, incorporating theoretical ergonomics and dimensions. The wash basin was tested using a prototype to ensure ease of use and practical functionality.

GOTHIC 700

Commode_ Overall width 750 x 708mm. Overall height 430mm. | Statement_ Width 670 x 530mm. Depth 260mm.

As a concept, these wireforms can double as heaters enhancing user comfort.

RUGBY 29XX

Bath tube_ Overall width 2933 x 2010mm. Overall height 500mm. | Statement_ Tube width 2695 x 1795mm. Tub depth 417mm.

The tub offers ample space for a comfortable, relaxing soak, making it truly one-of-a-kind.

DONUT 55

Wash basin_ Overall diameter 550mm. Overall height 167mm. | Statement_ Bowl diameter 395mm. Bowl depth 148mm.

Products around the basin are neatly contained, with universal containers fitting into the frame.

Colour, Material and Finish

Wireform designs are available in Jade(white) with Silver frame, Sapphire with Copper frame, Emerald Green with Brass frame, and Jade(red) with Black frame. The base colours are carefully selected to harmonise with any material or frame combination.

A variety of materials are available for the body, including Ceramic, Jade, Marble, and Glass, while the frames are crafted from Stainless Steel for durability and elegance.

The product is finished with a Nano Coating that forms an invisible, long-lasting bond with the surface, repelling water and preventing stains, dirt, and other contaminants from building up.

Prototyping Process

The wireform sanitaryware combines exceptional aesthetics and design to create a sense of luxury. This product consists of two components - the frame and the solid surface that rests elegantly on it.

Fusion 360 and AutoCAD are used for modeling, while Autodesk VRED and Fusion 360 are utilised for rendering.

The prototyping began on a 1:1 scale using a 6mm mild steel rod.

The manufacturer specialising in CNC bending was unable to assist, as they typically work with larger diameters and lacked the necessary facilities to bend 6mm rods.

With no other options available, all parts were bent by hand using fixtures. Scale sketches of each part were printed to measure curves accurately, compensating for the lack of access to bending machines.

The wireform structure was constructed manually due to the lack of a CNC bending facility. Each of the 24 parts was welded, with loops closed in collaboration with the technician.

Welding joints were marked using a top-view print of the model. The parts were then assembled and welded together, forming the complete wireform structure.
A 3D printer was used to create the base of the body, which was then layered with clay and polished to a smooth finish. The frame was polished with metal polish and a scrubber for a refined look.
Clear gloss paint was sprayed to prevent the frame from rusting, while white gloss paint was used on the clay to replicate the appearance of ceramic.

Displaying the Prototype

To showcase the prototype, a custom counter with a wooden back wall was constructed.

The counter was covered with matte vinyl to create a textured finish, while the back wall was coated with gloss vinyl to emulate the appearance of marble.
The entire setup was designed to replicate a washing area.