BATHROOMS
MANUFACTURER - SONAS
SONAS creative dream team (L-R): Aoife Farrell, Junkal Arenaza, James Quinn, Barry McGrath, Hillary Oaker, Francisc Pentek and Karla Santana.
FROM MARKET RESEARCH TO PRODUCT DESIGN AND BROCHURE CREATION, SONAS LEADS THE WAY… Meet the SONAS creative dream team products sits with Barry McGrath, Product
T he creative SONAS Product and Design team embodies company values to deliver innovative designs. With seven members from diverse backgrounds, the team designs all products in-house, ensuring vitality and sustainability for the business, including the SONAS 2023 second edition brochure launched in July. Francisc Pentek, a qualified engineer, and James Quinn, a 25-year veteran in the industry, lead product development across 10 categories at SONAS. “Our role is to look at the market, understand customer needs and see how we can address this, either by enhancing existing products or developing new innovative designs”, said Francisc. The team carries out a lot of research as part of their product development process, generating new ideas and prototypes to present to sales teams and customers. James added, “The most important part of developing a new product is understanding how it will be accepted by the customer. Their valuable insights play an instrumental role in shaping and perfecting our offerings.” The responsibility for the design of these
team is genuinely interested in my ideas and what I have to contribute.” Product Analyst, Junkal Arenaza, added, “Everyone rows together, and we all play a part in developing products and delivering to market.”
Designer. “Francisc is quite technically minded, whereas James is very customer centric. It’s a great balance between the two guys and helps bridge the boundaries between function and design.” Once the product has been designed and developed, it is then handed over to the marketing and graphic designers to translate those designs and product benefits. “Our job is to tell the why, the story behind the products and how our products make people feel,” explained Karla Santana, Product Marketing. SONAS’ main communication tool for showcasing products is its brochure, managed by Aoife Farrell, Graphic Designer. “Recent independent research indicates that printed brochures play a significant role in the bathroom consumer journey, with over two thirds of consumers relying on them for information. Therefore, it is essential that we structure the brochure in a manner that enables customers to envision our products in their homes with ease.” The team was recently joined by their newest member, Hillary Oaker as a graphic designer. “What’s great is that the
The team and overall product development is overseen by the
company’s Chief Commercial Officer, Ger Fahy, who has been with the business for nearly seven years. “I think the main strength of the team is the individuality each member brings. I love how this influences the dynamic of our work. Everyone has something to contribute, and with so many perspectives, we get a great blend of ideas that helps us deliver products that the consumer is looking for.” The SONAS team prioritises product vitality, continuously developing new bathroom offerings to stay ahead of trends for their 2024 collection.
To read more bathroom trends, news, and product information,
download the free Styled by SONAS digital magazine – see QR code.
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