Award-Winning Juna Kitchen Sink Series

The Juna Kitchen Sink Series for Systemceram is a 2025 German Design Award-winning product line featuring a refined, organic "Retro-Modern" design language. Developed during my tenure at Hans Winkler Design, my role as Concept Author and Lead 3D Designer involved bridging high-end aesthetics with strict ceramic manufacturing standards through precision NURBS surface modeling and comprehensive Design for Manufacturing (DFM).

 Design Evolution & Process 

• 01 / Top-View Sketch: Early conceptual exploration of the initial organic volumes and the proportions of the basin and integrated drainboard.

• 02 / Top-View Render: Translating the sketch into a digital NURBS model to evaluate symmetry, drainage logic, and top-down visual balance.

• 03 / Stakeholder Presentation: Presenting early form reviews directly to the Systemceram executive team (screen blurred to protect unreleased concept variations).

• 04 / Surface Continuity: Close-up detailing the complex, fluid curvature transition from the flat drainboard surface down into the sink basin.

• 05 / Geometric Iteration (Rhino Quad-View): A CAD screenshot displaying the multi-view workspace. Tracks roughly 10 iterative stages of basin development lined up, showcasing the evolution toward the most refined final geometry.

• 06 / Rendered Cross-Section: A central front-to-back section cut revealing internal wall thicknesses. This demonstrates how the fluid curvature seamlessly transitions from the upper drainboard down into the basin interior.

• 07 / Flush-Mount Render: A clean, focused render displaying the sink in a seamless flush-mounted configuration. The length ways, slightly tilted perspective highlights the visual harmony of the curves.

• 08 / Production & Accessory Integration: A factory floor photograph of the final ceramic casting. It features a custom-designed wooden cutting board accessory nested perfectly within the sink architecture to showcase functional versatility

On the team at Hans Winkler Design, I served as the Concept Author and Lead 3D Designer for the Juna Kitchen Sink Series. I acted as the crucial "technical-aesthetic bridge" on the project. My responsibility was to originate the organic, "Retro-Modern" design language from initial pencil sketches and translate it into high-fidelity, production-intent NURBS geometry using Rhino. I was directly responsible for ensuring that the premium visual appeal and seamless light-play of the curves were maintained while optimizing the model for real-world manufacturing constraints (DFM).

Achieving a flawless final product required intense, cross-disciplinary collaboration. I worked closely under the creative leadership of Hans Winkler, while maintaining a constant feedback loop with external technical teams. I collaborated with the engineering team at Systemceram to prepare the initial geometry for structural reinforcement. Additionally, I worked hand-in-hand with Systemceram’s factory engineering team to calibrate the model for standardized cabinet widths, optimize drainage slopes, and integrate the precise draft angles required for ceramic mold release. While I managed the visible geometry and wall thicknesses, they finalized the internal underside ribbing.

The project was an absolute commercial and critical success. We successfully proved that a highly organic, complex aesthetic could survive the rigorous manufacturing constraints of slip-cast ceramics without compromising design integrity. The Juna series is currently fully manufactured, commercially distributed, and sold by Systemceram. Furthermore, the design achieved the highest tier of industry recognition, winning the prestigious 2025 German Design Award.

Project Credits: Developed during full-time tenure at Hans Winkler Design; Concept Authorship by Michael Riley; primary hero rendering and manufacturing floor photography courtesy of Systemceram GmbH & Co. KG. 

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