Figure 2.x Axor Stark V
The Axor Starck V faucet by Hansgrohe also uses transparency
to bring an experience to life, but in a more natural and analog
way. Created in collaboration with the French designer Philippe
Starck, this clear faucet is made of crystal glass that showcases
a unique water vortex created by its base. The faucet design is
minimal, acting as a platform to support and celebrate the natural
beauty of the swirling water, the texture of its motion, and the
sound it creates as the vortex moves upwards and flows into the
basin.
Turning on the faucet is a delightful experience because of the
way it engages your senses unexpectedly. You assume that
water will begin flowing, but are caught off guard by the richness
of what is normally a mundane experience of liquid moving
silently through an opaque pipe. The Axor Starck V highlights the
notion of design as an amplification of what is already there,
recognizing the potential of water to engage the senses more
than it normally does, and providing the support for that unique
experience to happen.
Reaction vs. Feedback
These two very different products instill delight through their
reaction to a person’s presence and actions, which goes beyond
mapping input to output. They foster more of a conversation,
where a person signals intent and the product takes over to
enable or perform a multi-part sensorial experience. Whether it’s
the choreographed movement of doors and lighting, or the
swirling vortex of water with its dramatic beginning and ending
scenes, the response takes place over time and relies heavily on
motion to engage and communicate with us. It is a conversation,
and the speaking role has briefly passed to the product, while
still feeling under our control.