Studio Sputnik’s Magicdrops wins prize at Cevisama in 2013

Tiles designed to make bathtime and bathrooms fun.

The very young design studio Sputnik won first prize in the Bathroom Design category of design competition Cevisama Lab for its project Magicdrops, also referred to by the slogan ‘Magic in the bathroom’, at the architectural ceramics trade fair Cevisama held last February. The idea was specially devised for children.

Magicdrops are tiles designed to make bathtime more fun; they offer children a unique experience that lets their imagination run riot. The tiles start out plain white but, as they get wet, change into a palette of attractive, lively colours. Once the user has had a bath, and as the tiles start to dry, they go back to their original colour. This change is caused by a white film placed on the tiles that becomes transparent when the tiles are wet, and so creates an environment where children can witness a magical, fun moment that stimulates them to learn more.

Inspired by a desire to create innovative, practical products that reinterpret everyday objects in fresh ways and to dream up audacious, highly individual forms, young design studio Sputnik was set up in Valencia in 2012. Its products aim to be interactive and promote the use of recyclable materials. Its first three designs – the Sputnik stool and table, the stackable, K ceramic and wood crockery collection and Santorini Lighting pendant lights range – all stand out for their appealing simplicity and innovative qualities. These have garnered plenty of press coverage: they’ve appeared in various, international publications, including the last December issues of Chinese Elle Decoration and the publication Design Magazine Beijing, the last November issue of Italian magazine Case de Abitare and German architecture title Absoluut.