David Kohler doesn’t run one of the world’s most prestigious kitchen and bathroom products groups by second-guessing consumers on the issue of design.

To me, design creates emotion. It inspires … and it’s a very personal thing,” he says.

“Good design differs between designers, and design trends change over time and from country to country. So staying abreast of what’s happening around the world, staying on top of our information resources, identifying and anticipating trends and having our people on the ground in influential countries and cultures is one reason we are successful.”

Kohler is group president of the Kitchen & Bath Group of Kohler Co and is on the board of directors. Kohler Co is one of America’s oldest and largest privately held companies.

Founded in 1873 and headquartered in Kohler, Wisconsin, the Kitchen & Bath Group includes a global family of businesses that manufacture plumbing and faucet products and cabinetry for residential, commercial and industrial markets. Its plumbing brands include Kohler, Sterling, Englefield, Hytec, Jacob Delafon and Karat; European showering brands Mira, Daryl and Rada; and cabinetry brands Canac for the kitchen, and Robern and Sanijura for the bath.

The company produces engines and power-generation systems, cabinetry, tiles and luxury home furnishings. It also hosts award-winning hospitality and world-class golf destinations.

“Much of our success can be attributed to selecting the right people,” Kohler says.

“We have an extensive screening and recruiting program and a very strong culture. We employ only people who want to be part of that culture. We have 31,000 employees around the globe and many have been with us for 25 years or more.”

Kohler joined the company’s management team in 1993 as director of fixtures marketing for plumbing North America. He became vice-president of sales in 1995 and sector president the following year. In 1999, he was named group president of the Kitchen & Bath Group and elected to the board.

He is a past chairman of the National Kitchen and Bath Association board of governors of manufacturing and is also a member of the Interface Inc board of directors.

Kohler certainly has the credentials to discuss bathroom design.

“Design is influenced by a combination of all types of forces and trends – social, consumer and environmental,” he says.

“Water conservation is influencing design, born out of necessity because it’s reaching crisis status in some countries. And with that come social and environmental issues that have to be dealt with.”

Kohler says the issue is also affecting the luxury market, which was once a huge consumer of water. However, he believes the sector no longer disregards water conservation.

“Clean water and water availability is an issue in more and more markets. It manifests itself in what manufacturers are doing with dual-flush water closets and other low-consumption products. In the US and European markets, shower heads and faucets maintain a high level of design while reducing water consumption.”

Kohler says good bathroom products not only have to look good, they must also be functional.

“Good design is form and function. To be a serious competitor in this market you must provide high levels of functionality and technical performance.”

He adds that color should not be overlooked in the design process.

“If you look at our company, color has been a major part of our history, our brand. And you will see more and more use of color in bathroom products. It has been a staple in certain markets around the world – less so in Europe and the Asia Pacific region. But as we continue to see an evolution in design, color is taking its cue from nature, moving from serene, neutral tones into the bolder palettes.