Next-Generation Bathroom Design Talent Revealed as AXOR Crowns 2025 Emerging Designer
AXOR has announced Musab Umair as the winner of its 2025 Emerging Designer Competition, following a highly competitive search for the next generation of bathroom space design talent across the UK and Ireland.
With its brands AXOR and hansgrohe, the Hansgrohe Group, based in Schiltach/Southern Germany, enjoys a reputation as a leader in innovation, design and quality within the bath and kitchen industry. Founded in 1901 in the Black Forest, the company gives water form and function with its faucets, showerheads and shower systems.
Entrants were challenged to reinterpret the hotel bathroom as an “escapist retreat” as a cocoon-inspired space designed for relaxation and disconnection from the outside world. Responding to the brief with creativity and individuality, participants explored thoughtful material palettes, spatial design and lighting to create immersive hospitality-focused bathroom concepts.
Musab Umair was selected as the overall winner by an expert judging panel comprising Anke Sohn, Head of Global Brand Marketing for AXOR; Tulu Adẹ̀kọ́, Founder and Creative Director of Adẹ̀kọ́ Studio; Bez Amdemichael, Senior Designer at Goddard Littlefair and Hamish Kilburn, journalist and owner of Kilburn Communications.
Judges praise winning concept
The panel unanimously praised Musab Umair’s submission for its sophisticated spatial planning and calming design language.
Bez Amdemichael described the proposal as: “A beautifully balanced and refined concept with a strong sense of calm, thoughtful detailing, and a clear understanding of light, form and materiality.”
Hamish Kilburn commented: “I loved how Musab challenged the conventional bathroom shape with natural curves. There is a natural flow to this design, and he has really considered how the space will be used.”
And Tulu Adẹ̀kọ́ added: “Musab’s scheme stood out for its clean, organic layout and effortless flow. The restrained palette and light use of materials supported a strong and well-resolved digital detox spa concept.”
Designing the future of luxury bathrooms
Now in its third year, the AXOR Emerging Designer Competition invited current interior design students and graduates of the past three years to showcase their creative vision for the future of bathroom design.
Inspired by AXOR’s design whitepaper ‘Escape the Ordinary’, the brief asked entrants to develop a hotel bathroom concept embodying the idea of a restorative sanctuary. Designers were also required to integrate signature products from AXOR’s existing collections into their schemes.
Winner’s prize
As the overall winner, Musab Umair will receive an exclusive trip to the home of AXOR in the Black Forest, Germany, where he will gain behind-the-scenes insight into the design and development process behind the brand’s luxury bathroom products.
The prize also includes a year-long pass to the Festival of Hospitality, curated by Always Thinking, providing access to all 2026 events. This will include behind-the-scenes tours of newly opened hotels, industry talks, and networking opportunities with leading figures across the hospitality sector.
Worthy runners-up
The judges also recognised the strong standard of entries by awarding second place to Polina Bielova and third place to Dinemis Balkaroglu. Polina’s design was praised as “an atmospheric and immersive scheme with warm, organic qualities that create a strong emotional connection and sense of retreat.”
Dinemis’ concept, meanwhile, “demonstrated a confident use of colour and texture, creating a bold and contemporary scheme enhanced by a well-considered selection of decorative elements” according to Bez Amdemichael.
Supporting the next generation of designers
Commenting on the competition, Anke Sohn, Head of Global Brand Marketing at AXOR, said:
“As ever, the standard of entries for the AXOR Emerging Designer competition was extremely high, and our expert judging panel faced a real challenge selecting the eventual winner.However, there was a clear consensus that Musab Umair’s entry fulfilled the brief with both creativity and a strong understanding of how products contribute to shaping exceptional hotel bathroom spaces. His scheme demonstrated an innovative merging of materials, colour, lighting and styling to create a cohesive and compelling design.“I congratulate Musab, as well as Polina and Dinemis, who also submitted impressive entries.”
“More than ever, it is important to shine a spotlight on new design talent and celebrate individual creativity. The skill and imagination demonstrated by this year’s entrants show that the future of bathroom design is in very good hands.”
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