To celebrate we put four questions to designer Bertrand Lejoly
In March 2021 Duravit first unveiled D-Neo – a complete bathroom range by Belgian designer Bertrand Lejoly – to the public. Its excellent quality and intelligent design combined with an attractive entry-level price, makes Duravit accessible to new target groups. D-Neo has been created to outlast short-lived trends and is the perfect companion for every day, every lifestyle, and every facet of life. The outstanding design has now been recognized twice by the coveted German Design Award.
Bertrand Lejoly answers four questions about this overwhelming success. Having worked as senior designer for Matteo Thun and head of Vincent van Duysen’s design department for many years, he opened his own design studio in 2018.
1. Mr. Lejoly, you are the holder of two certificates from the German Design Award 2022 for outstanding design - with an award as “winner” for the D-Neo faucets along with a “special mention” for the series as a whole. How does that feel?
The prizes are of course a huge honor for me. The German Design Award is one of our industry’s most important accolades. It’s not just recognition of the work we’ve already done, but even more so it’s an enormous motivation for me for the future.
2. Design prizes are one thing, economic success and sales figures are something else. D-Neo has become an international bestseller within the Duravit range. Did you expect that a year ago?
I have in fact received an overwhelming response to the collection from all sides. That makes me very proud. It’s really important to me to express a huge thank you and pass on my compliments to the Duravit team. Their great passion and drive have enabled the original idea to be realized as a successful series. This experience has really impressed me.
3. What does this success mean for you personally and your young design studio, for instance in terms of your profile?
We’re currently working on exciting new orders in the fields of furniture, outdoor, lighting, and tableware. The launch and success with the wide-ranging publicity around D-Neo have really helped draw attention to our design studio. That spurs us on and gives us an even greater impetus for the future.
4. How can we envisage the design process in general terms? What are the key stages from the briefing through to finished series?
What’s important for me is that both sides understand each other from the outset. That the client clearly identifies and communicates what they need and that the designer understands this briefing accordingly so they can interpret it for optimum results. Such collaborations usually last several years with many stages and key decisions, so the chemistry simply must be right.
Duravit AG Founded in 1817 in Hornberg in the Black Forest, Duravit AG is today a leading international manufacturer of designer bathrooms. The company is active in more than 130 countries worldwide and stands for innovation in the fields of signature design, comfort-enhancing technology and premium quality. In cooperation with an international network of high-profile designers such as Philippe Starck, sieger design, Christian Werner, Cecilie Manz and young talents such as Bertrand Lejoly and Kurt Merki Jr., the company develops unique bathrooms that enhance quality of life for users on a sustained basis. Duravit's product portfolio comprises sanitary ceramics, bathroom furniture, bathtubs and shower trays, wellness systems, shower-toilets, tap fittings and accessories as well as installation systems.
Bertrand Lejoly
Bertrand Lejoly (born 1980) grew up in the Eastern part of Belgium, at the junction of the German and French culture. After studying at the École supérieure des arts Saint-Luc in Liège, he gained his first work experience as an industrial designer in Germany. He then went to Milan for seven years to collaborate with Matteo Thun. In 2013 he became Head of Product Design with the Belgian architect Vincent Van Duysen. In 2018 Bertrand Lejoly started his own design studio in Antwerp. Since then he has been working with major brands on furniture, lighting, sanitary and tableware products.
https://bertrandlejoly.com / Facebook @bertrand.lejoly / Instagram @bertrandlejoly
