Whipsaw Inc.
Interview with Dan Harden

Red Dot: The appearance of the Melior kitchen mixer tap breaks with visual conventions. How did you manage to rethink an everyday product?

Good design is always about looking at the problem with fresh eyes and being brave enough to defy convention. It involves banishing everything that already exists from one’s mind to make way for an organic ideation process. In our case, we used water as a starting point. For example, we considered where water flow should be directed when washing dishes. Can it be directed over the sink? Is there a more convenient way to move the tap head? Our willingness to embrace new options and our curiosity allowed us to rethink the product.

Melior is equipped with a magnetic ball joint. What are the advantages of this development? 

It allows the water jet to be directed to precisely where it is needed in the sink. Maximum flexibility is achieved with a water outlet that can be moved in any direction and an arm that can be raised or lowered. Most taps only point downwards and swivel, so they are often in the way when washing dishes. We discovered this common but often overlooked failing in conventional products at home when we had a lot of dishes to wash.

Was the development of the joint challenging?

It was definitely tricky because the joint has to be easy to release yet snap firmly back into place when returned. Another potential problem was the fact that the joint comes into contact with soap and grease. We tested a range of surface treatments to improve magnetic adhesion, such as textured structures for mechanical support and various materials to provide “sticky friction”, as well as other forms of adhesion. The final solution is a uniquely patterned silicone socket that securely holds the chrome ball and enables smooth and quiet movement.