In 2011, the achievements of the GROHE Design Team, led by Paul Flowers, were recognized with the Red Dot: Design Team of the Year Award.

To celebrate the tenth anniversary of this remarkable accomplishment, Prof. Dr. Peter Zec, the Founder and CEO of Red Dot, met with Paul Flowers, Leader, LIXIL Global Design, Executive Vice President.

The meeting was an opportunity for both of them to reflect on the continued significance of the award and explore this and some of the other recent developments within the GROHE brand, LIXIL and the wider world of design.

Red Dot – the sought-after seal of quality for outstanding design

With origins dating back to 1955, the Red Dot Award is hugely prestigious. Operating globally, Red Dot appraises submissions in over 50 categories across three competitions: Product Design, Brand & Communications and Design Concept.

Each year, a single award – the Red Dot: Design Team of the Year – is presented to the design team that has consistently demonstrated an outstanding level of achievement. The award, which operates across all industries, is widely recognized as the highest appreciation of a brand’s design strategy. 

Red Dot: Design Team of the Year 2011

In July 2011, at a gala ceremony in Essen, the GROHE Design Team was awarded the title of Red Dot: Design Team of the Year – the first from the bathroom and kitchen fittings industry to be recognized in this way.

In the years leading up to 2011, GROHE had made significant investments in design, research, technology, engineering and product development. GROHE made the strategic decision to ‘change the company from the inside’ – and create pioneering, industry-leading products with the highest standards of functionality and aesthetics.

This sustained campaign of design innovation and technological excellence resulted in numerous Red Dot: Best of the Best Awards – with GROHE ultimately becoming the first brand to launch a truly integrated digital bathroom.

Being awarded Red Dot: Design Team of the Year in 2011 was a tremendous validation of this strategy and receiving this special honor, the most prestigious of all, was a momentous – and very memorable – occasion for everyone involved.

LIXIL: the global evolution of the GROHE design philosophy

In 2014, just three years after winning the Red Dot: Design Team of the Year Award, GROHE became part of LIXIL, the Japanese pioneer of innovative water and housing products – and home to 16 iconic brands. In the years that followed, LIXIL evolved from an individual brand organization to a house of global brands model. 

As part of this process, Paul Flowers was appointed Leader, LIXIL Global Design, Executive Vice President,  and, in 2020, formed a new LIXIL Global Design Team – with the objective of accelerating the long-term strategy of integrating Design into the DNA of LIXIL.

Paul explains: “We currently have six major in-house design studios around the world. With bases in Tokyo, Tokoname, New York, London, Düsseldorf and Singapore we have a truly global scope. 

We aim to be the voice of the consumer within LIXIL. For me, it’s about strengthening the distinctive design language of each of LIXIL’s brand and, at the same time, finding and creating synergies to enhance the quality of design across all the brands in the LIXIL family. 

Ultimately, of course, our purpose is to make better homes a reality for everyone, everywhere – thinking and acting as ‘one LIXIL’ are key to achieving this. It’s an incredibly exciting challenge.”

Over the years, the global design team has won more than 100 Red Dot Awards and 7 Best of the Best Awards and winning the Red Dot: Design Team of the Year in 2011 remains a huge honor for GROHE.

“Consumers recognize and value the Red Dot Mark – it gives consumers the confidence they’re making the right choice.”