Kingfisher plcIndustrial designer
Oct. 2021Lille, Hauts-de-France, FranceKingfisher plc is the largest home improvement retailer in Europe and the third largest in the world. The Group operates approximately 1,900 stores across 8 countries, serving millions of customers through well-known brands such as B&Q, Screwfix, Castorama, and Brico Dépôt DEPARTMENT Design Studio (Style, Industrial Design & Engineering) GOAL Create innovative, high-quality, affordable products that meet customer needs. SCOPE: Bathroom & Storage PRODUCTS: Taps, Hydrotherapy, Sanitaryware, Basinware, Furniture, Accessories KEY ACTIVITIES • COLLABORATION: Work with style, quality, sourcing, and commercial teams. • EXPLORATION: Identify user needs; explore short- and long-term solutions. • PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT: Refine designs with technical, commercial, and supplier input. • COMMERCIAL BALANCE: Align creativity with business needs. • DESIGN LANGUAGE: Ensure consistency across product lines. • SUSTAINABILITY: Reduce water use and carbon footprint. • STRATEGIC TOOLS: Apply user research, design guidelines, and exploratory methods. • PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Lead projects, guide agencies and junior team members. KEY ACHIEVEMENTS • Levanna – Faucet & Shower Range: Launched in UK, FR, PL, RO; reduced water use and improved comfort; received Red Dot Design Award 2024. • Levanna – Bathroom Storage Accessories: Improved grooming accessibility in UK and PL. • Ceramic Ranges (Confidential): Created and co-developed two ceramic product lines for commercialisation. • Inclusive Bathroom Range: Co-created inclusive bathroom products in collaboration with therapists and accessibility organisations. • Furniture Range: Created and developed two ranges of bathroom furniture, now confirmed for launch. • Experimental R&D Projects: Ran exploratory projects focused on space optimisation, water savings, and accessibility.