OUR DESIGN MINDS

Highly respected amongst the Australian industrial design community, this renowned industrial designer and fellow of the Design Institute of Australia (DIA) has held senior appointments in the bathroom product design industry for over 35 years. A pioneer in sustainable design, Dr Cummings has been dedicated to developing products that minimise water consumption. He is recognised internationally as an authority in this field.

Arguably his most iconic design achievements have been the development of the first vitreous china two button dual flush cistern in 1984, followed by 6/3 litre dual flush WC technology in 1993 and then 4.5/3L Smartflush® technology in 2004. Saving up to 67% of water usage in most homes, they been recognised internationally as ground-breaking Australian innovations.

Other outstanding, award winning design projects by Caroma's design team under Cummings' direction have included the Cube 0.8 litre urinal, Cube H2Zero waterless urinal and the Flow showerhead.

Cummings' work continues to be admired by many industrial designers including Paul Charlwood, former national director of the DIA. “The success of Steve’s work is a shining example of Australian design innovation: beautiful, long lasting, highly innovative and environmentally conscious – something we all strive for.” In 2012, Cummings was inducted into the DIA Hall of Fame.

In 2001, Cummings was conferred with the degree of Doctor of Environmental Design (by research thesis) by the Faculty of Environmental Design at the University of Canberra. An active member of the design and engineering community, he devotes his time and extensive knowledge to various Standards Australia Committees, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) standard committees and is an Associate of the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology, Sydney.

Over the past 14 years, Vincent has worked to bring Caroma products to market, including designing sanitaryware, taps, sinks and spa bath design. From conceptual sketches to finished products, his collaborations include work on the Caroma Liano and Contura collections.

“My grandfather was an oil painter and my auntie, an art teacher, so I’ve been surrounded by colour and paint since I was very young.  Observing nature has always inspired me, in particular its fine details and how they can be applied to man made objects. Sketching and painting allows me to express my feelings and the pencil never leaves my hand. Now, my passion has became so much more than a hobby.”

With over 10 years experience as an industrial designer for Caroma, Luke’s specific focus has been on the development of water saving technology, as well collaborating on numerous award winning products such as the Caroma Cube H2Zero urinals – winner of two 2007 Australian Design awards.

A 2003 graduate in Industrial Design with first class honours from the University of Canberra, Luke has since worked closely with key industry groups to design dedicated, care-focused bathroom solutions that combine functional requirements with current design trends.  

“I’m constantly inspired by my fellow designers. We’ve worked together for a long time and bounce ideas off each other well.  Whilst we bring different experiences and influences to the design table, at our core is an Australian design ethos grounded in practical, functional and sustainable design principles.  There’s a real sense of enthusiasm and passion and as a designer, it’s great to see this momentum build from a simple sketched idea to a fully resolved, completed product.”

Since graduating with first class honours in Industrial Design from the University of Canberra in 2004, Leonie's influence on bathroom fitting design has gained both strength and momentum, delivering some of the most recognisable tapware ranges in the industry. As part of the Caroma team, her collaborations have resulted in numerous Australian and international design awards.

“For me, inspiration could be anything from seeing a familiar material used in a new application, to an interesting colour/texture combination that makes me see something in a new light, to the beautiful simplicity of an object or product. It’s often the little things that trigger inspired moments for me and that’s when the ideas start flowing.”