Ideal Standard HygenIQ urinal on a wood panel designed by UK-based industrial designers, Goodwin Hartshorn

HygenIQ Urinals & Hydrofin Basin

Client

Ideal Standard
Armitage Shanks

Year

2010 & 2017

Type of Work

Design development

Prototyping

Design for manufacture

The standard urinal design in the UK had not changed in over 40 years before the launch of our HygenIQ urinals. And whilst this standard design is ubiquitous, it has a key fault: during use, it causes splash-back. This is unpleasant for users, can damage floor and wall coverings, causes odours and leads to bacterial growth. These urinals have been designed to eliminate splash-back with the inclusion of a central vertical ‘fin’. The ‘fin’ allows the urine to strike at a near-tangential angle which significantly reduces any splash.

A line of innovative anti-splash urinals in a washroom is an example of B2B product design.

Following the first ‘eureka moment’, there was a long process of functional development both at our studio and with Ideal Standard in Hull. The ‘fin’ feature was tested (with water!) to hone its form for best performance over many months – and this process was carefully documented to communicate the findings.

Proof-of-principle testing of the anti splash urinal using a video camera to film the splashing

With a working anti-splash feature, we concentrated on the visual aspects and on installation. After initially developing wholly new forms, we focussed on updating Armitage Shanks’ classic urinals; simplifying the design language whilst also integrating the anti-splash fin feature.

Concept development sketches of the anti-splash urinal by product design consultancy Goodwin Hartshorn

Small foam models made in our London-based workshop to experiment with urinal form

A client-centric factory visit to review plaster moulds with craftsman as part of our Design for Manufacture (DFM) process

A line-up of three inventive Armitage Shanks urinals that use engineering design to improve performance

After the initial launch of the HygenIQ urinals we turned our attention to hospitals – where healthcare acquired infections are a significant and growing problem.