Appliance specialist Gorenje recently launched its new Black Collection, designed by Paolo Pininfarina. Tim Wallace spoke to him...

There seems to be a trend towards black at the moment in the kbb sector...

Yes, I'm doing black in the world of white, but black is more than a trend, it's an achievement. It's a point of arrival. My phone used to be grey, but when it's luxury it becomes black and then it's a classic. Domestic appliances were white because most of the kitchens were white. But the kitchen is becoming more of a living room so there's no distinction between the two rooms and more flexibility; appliances have become part of the new living room where there's more sophistication in the design. I consider it a new platform. Now we have the black we can think of new generations also using black.

Is designing something like a fridge a totally different proposition to designing a car?

There are things like colour, round shapes and retro that we've seen in appliances that are more or less using the same lines as the Mini or the new VW Beetle or the Fiat Cinquecento. The round shape and retro feel are a little bit inspired by the refrigerators of the 50s and 60s. But retro isn't our sector; we are about elegance and innovation. When I made the Jacuzzi bath with the egg shape, a few months later I made the Mido car you see in the entrance. It was inspired by the bath. For me, design is progress. To take inspiration from the past may be OK if you use some detail but if you clone the whole thing the design lacks new ideas. I will never do retro design.

Is it true you drive a Volvo?

Yes, I drive Volvo C90; I need an SUV for the mountains. It's a good classical design, but unfortunately not designed by Pininfarina...

How did the tie-up with Gorenje come about?

We had a feeling we were the right partners for each other. For me, Gorenje is a company that has helped Pininfarina to promote itself in Eastern Europe. Gorenje is strong where Pininfarina is weak. We don't have a Pininfarina car in those markets. I'm more famous for kitchens and domestic appliances than cars. Also, Gornenje believed in Pininfarina design and allowed me to give a lot of imput. It's not finished either, there's a future for us.

What are consumers looking for now? Is it about the look or the technology?

Design is the discipline that makes the technology more accessible. I like designs that make technology friendly; you need to make it easy. Bring order out of the complicated disorder of the engineer. Make it accessible. What I try to achieve is simplicity, along with safety and comfort.

Who else in the industry do you admire?

I'd like to mention Piero Lissoni, I like the elegance of his designs but I consider them a little cool, mine are warmer. If there's someone I'd like to work with it's him.

Which kitchen or bathroom products are you most proud of?

In the kitchen, it would have to be the first kitchen I made for Snaidero. In the bathroom, I like the Jacuzzi Omega shower very much. I like the combination of shower and steam bath and the wood of the chair.

What about the egg-shaped bath?

Yes, but I was only able to design it for a suite, you need a very big bathroom. Also I like the Gorenje refrigerator, for me it's the celebration of our partnership.

What kitchen do you have at home?

I like Snaidero. I'm building a house in the mountains and that's what's going in, and a Gorenje dishwasher! But frankly I don't want to be a collector and user of Pinninfarina design 24 hours a day. The risk is to be over led by your designs.

What trends in the kbb sector stand out for you?

The world of kitchen design is moving faster than the world of bathrooms, it's more dynamic and there's more risk. The bathroom is still conservative. The bathroom should evolve to become the wellness centre of the house, but it hasn't really happened.