Following the recent release of the IF Design and Good Design award results for 2014, we put together a list of Australian-designed award winning bathroom products.

With everything from cisterns to shower heads, and linear drains to scald free tapware, Australian bathroom design has shown diversity and triumph in recent times.

Here are eight examples of our country’s best designs that have had recent success in premier awards programs:

1. Caroma Marc Newson Collection
Designer: Marc Newson
Award: Good Design Award 2014 (Overall Winner), IF Product Design Award 2014


Features:
The Caroma Marc Newson Bathroom Collection is a design collaboration between Australian industrial designer Marc Newson and Caroma. The design brief required a new approach in the design of a complete Caroma bathroom collection consisting of 22-pieces, which includes toilets, tapware, showers, baths and a urinal.

From the start of the project, Marc Newson and Caroma undertook an iterative and rigorous design and engineering program to solve numerous engineering challenges resulting in patented installation technology.

Innovations across the Marc Newson collection include a no base flanges or wall cover plate policy for tapware, a vitreous china material continuity across the entire range and an innovative toilet pan flushing configuration.

2. Milli Axon Tap
Designer: Phoenix Tapware
Award: IF Product Design Award 2014

Features:
The Million Axon basin mixer was an IF Product Design award winner for 2014 and is available now for purchase at Reece stores. The basin mixers have a modern appearance and cylindrical profile. They come in contrasting finishes of matte black and chrome and feature a slimline 27mm cartridge and solid brass construction. The taps have a six star water consumption rating and average four litres per minute.

3. 3D DURASTONE tile
Designer: Everstone Pty Ltd
Award: Good Design Award 2014

Features:
3D DURASTONE™ is the world’s first unglazed and full body 3D porcelain tile. It is a rectified product, available in a natural finish and a 900 x 300mm format. Available in four natural colours, the two designs designs consist of 3D Ispring and 3D Bloom in continuous pattern designs.

4. Kawa Tapware (Kawa means river in Japanese)
Designer: Phoenix Tapware
Award: IF Product Design Award

Features: 
Kawa’s discrete low profile operating handle blends effectively into the mixer body. The patented concealed handle mechanism creates a new design language for mixer taps that is simple and sophisticated. Its innovative internal features deliver a smooth water flow for the user while providing maximum water saving. It is due for release late 2014.

5. Slimline Linear Drain 65MND

Designer: Stormtech, Marc Newson 
Award: Good Design Award 2014

Features:
Linear drain design was invented by Stormtech to allow for a wider range of floor surfaces and flooring configurations than is possible with traditional centre wastes. The latest series of grates was created in collaboration with internationally renowned designer, Marc Newson. The partnership has created a new decorative solution for wet areas, including bathrooms, balconies, courtyards, thresholds, pools, paved areas and driveways. The 65MND Series grates are manufactured from 2mm marine grade stainless steel, available in satin stainless steel, satin black, white, pearl brass and blue finishes. The drainage system is completed with a stainless steel or PVC channel.

6. Ortho Faucet
Designer: Phoenix Tapware
Award: IF Product Design Award.

Features:
The Ortho range incorporates pure form and minimalism, which conceals its ceramic cartridge technology. The white handle ring serves as a strong visual element that gives this product its unique signature while providing a clear and simple user-interface. The progressive cartridge technology affords a single circular motion for exact temperature control. Applications over wash basins are flow rate controlled for class-leading maximum water conservation.

7. Lindoni Scald Guard mixer tap 
Designer: Fix-A-Tap Australia
Award: Good design Award 2013

Features:
The Lindoni Scald Guard utilises a unique inbuilt cartridge that automatically returns to the cold position as soon as the user has turned off the tap. The 2014 Good Design Award winning tap was designed as an economical solution to the issue of hot water scalding amongst toddlers and young children. Unlike most thermostatic mixer taps designed for scald reduction, Scald Guard is priced below $100 and enables Australian families to provide a safer environment for their loved ones.

8. Rogerseller – Amelie
Designer: Rogerseller
Award: Good Design Award 2014

Features: 
The Rogerseller Amélie is a contemporary interpretation of the traditional claw-foot bath. It is inspired by a traditional chaise lounge, ‘the Méridienne’, a 19th century French name given to an asymmetrical daybed with higher headrest and lower footrest. Designed and manufactured by Rogerseller, it is made of lightweight Lucite acrylic which is warm to touch, and is exceptionally strong, durable, scratch and chemical resistant. Lucite can be repaired on-site if subject to damage, extending the life of the product. Amélie includes a waste installation kit, designed at a height to be invisible in most room applications.

About the Awards:

- The IF Product Design Awards:

The IF Product Design Award was introduced in 1954 and is annually conferred by the IF International Forum Design.

3,249 entries across 17 categories were accepted for the 2014 IF product design awards. 1,220 entries were able to pass thorough evaluation by an international jury of 49 industry experts and were recognized with an iF product design award 2014.

The 50 most impressive entries receive an iIF gold award in recognition of their superior design quality

- Good Design Awards:

The Australian Good Design Awards is one of the longest standing design awards in the world. The program’s heritage dates back to the Industrial Design Council of Australia established in 1958.

It awards products and services design innovations across 15 categories which includes Architecture and Interior, Commercial and Industrial, and Hardware and Building.

2014 saw 150 finalists narrowed to 77 product and 15 category awards.