
Walter Knoll AG & Co. KG
Red Dot: The design of technical systems often remains invisible – and yet it is crucial for their acceptance. What role does “design for professionals” play for you in the technical environment?
For us, “design for professionals” means not only making products visually appealing, but also consistently aligning them with the requirements and needs of professional users. Particularly in the technical environment, good design often has an invisible impact on the acceptance of a product – not through pure aesthetics, but through functionality, reliability and intuitive usability. Professionals rely on their tools and systems, especially under extreme operating conditions. Good design makes complexity manageable, reduces maintenance costs and creates trust – not through visual appeal, but through function, structure and ergonomics. Aesthetics play a supporting role here: they signal quality and facilitate orientation. However, the decisive factor is that design makes work processes more efficient, safer and more pleasant – for us, this is the core of genuine “design for professionals”.
To what extent did the function determine the design of the Dual Submersible Pump – and where was there still room for an independent design language?
The Dual Submersible Pump clearly follows the principle of “form follows function” – its design is derived directly from the technical requirements, user-friendliness and robustness. And yet there was still room for manoeuvre in the design. Through a targeted choice of materials, clear lines and ergonomic details, we were able to actively shape the character of the pump. The reduced design is therefore not only functionally determined, but also deliberately chosen – for a product that is understandable, reliable and immediately accessible. It is precisely this interplay that characterises the design identity of the Dual Submersible Pump.
