Ideal Standard renews Roberto Palomba's role as chief design officer

Renowned architect and designer Roberto Palomba is continuing to lead Ideal Standard’s creative direction within the Villeroy & Boch Group, in his role as chief design officer. The continued collaboration with the renowned architect and designer is said to underscore the group’s commitment to building on Ideal Standard’s design-led success and strengthening its global position as a benchmark in approachable contemporary design.

 

Since 2018, Palomba and his Milan-based studio, Palomba Serafini Associati, have defined Ideal Standard’s contemporary design DNA. Renowned for his human-centred approach, Palomba draws on the brand’s rich heritage while responding to the evolving demands of modern life and shifting customer needs. His design ethos centres on creating enduring products that seamlessly blend form and function, delivering lasting value and timeless relevance. 

 

Ideal Standard has a distinguished legacy of collaboration with visionary designers such as Achille Castiglioni, who created the Linda and Aquatonda series; Paolo Tilche, designer of the iconic Conca basin; and Gae Aulenti and Mario Bellini, whose work across architecture and industrial design has left a lasting mark on modern design culture. Palomba’s leadership builds on this heritage while simultaneously pushing the boundaries of bathroom design for a new era. Among Palomba’s latest creations are La Dolce Vita – part of the award-winning Atelier Collections, and the i.life collection.

 

Speaking about his continued partnership with the brand, Roberto Palomba said: "I embrace this opportunity because it allows me to focus on what matters most to me: good design. I’ve always believed that design should be a right, not a luxury. My goal is to create high-quality objects that are accessible to a broad audience – a philosophy deeply ingrained in Ideal Standard’s history and culture. That’s why I’m here. 

Today, my work centres on a question that is both simple and complex: what does it truly mean to create democratic quality? The challenge ahead lies in establishing the principles that will guide us, transforming the ideal of democratic design into a tangible and measurable reality." 

 

“Building on Ideal Standard’s strong design heritage, our objective is to establish the brand globally as the leading name for approachable contemporary design,” said Sven Ullrich, executive vice president marketing, R&D and product management at Villeroy & Boch. “We have ambitious plans for the future and a clear vision of where we want to take the brand. Roberto Palomba’s creative leadership and deep understanding of the bathroom space have been key in shaping Ideal Standard’s distinctive identity — and will continue to play an important role in driving its growth and success.”