People – Don Doman
A Prolific Designer
Don Doman (1922-1991), a gifted industrial designer, was at the creative helm of Kohler Co.’s innovative plumbing products, partnering closely with both Herbert V. Kohler, Sr. and Herbert V. Kohler, Jr.
“I think Kohler Co. is one of the greatest companies in the world. It has a reputation for both quality and integrity that is enviable, to say the least.”
Don Doman, an award-winning industrial designer and engineer, likely had no idea the career he was about to embark upon, and the legacy he would forge, when in 1961 he kicked off his first design project with Herbert V. Kohler, Sr., CEO at the time.
That year, their first development project took shape in the form of seven new plumbing products – “closets” as toilets were called, bathroom lavatories, and a drinking fountain. Educated and trained in both mechanical engineering and design, Doman shaped his creative acumen through in-house work at Montgomery Ward and Co., Pullman-Standard Car Mfg., and as Chief Designer at Parker Pen in Janesville, Wisconsin, before striking out on his own in 1957.
His two-man firm, Don Doman Associates, connected with Herbert V. Kohler, Sr. to pitch the idea of adding design consultation to the growing company’s portfolio. And Doman wasted no time in securing that first meeting. An airplane afficionado, Doman flew his own single-engine airplane from Janesville to Sheboygan to present his design skills just hours after that first phone call to Kohler.
For the next 25 years, Doman traveled countless miles from his firm in Janesville to Kohler to collaborate with Kohler’s engineers, product and marketing managers, as well as Herbert. V Kohler, Sr. and subsequently Herbert V. Kohler, Jr., bringing a myriad of products to life through advanced engineering and industry-leading design.
Doman created well over 800 product design renderings for Kohler. His prolific work included some well-known iconic products such as the Birthday Bath, Rochelle toilet, The Super Spa, Greek bath, Caribbean bath, as well as Alterna and Antique faucets. While Doman had many success stories at Kohler, he was quick to say that there were a number of ideas that never got off the ground. “For every one that flies, there’s about 10 that don’t,” he would say with a grin.
Doman’s work was highly regarded by Kohler leadership, and he was soon added to more project development initiatives. Doman faithfully designed Kohler’s full plumbing portfolio for a quarter century, spanning bathroom lavatories, faucets, shower enclosures, bathtub surrounds, toilets, urinals, and drinking fountains.
As Kohler’s engineers developed new technologies and products, Doman helped bring them to life through unique and gracious designs. He found a creative partner in Herbert V. Kohler, Jr., noting that the chairman was “a design-oriented individual who recognizes the value of industrial design.” Their partnership shaped dozens of products as well as the rightfully earned design-forward reputation of Kohler Co.
In 1971, Doman was presented with what he called his most fascinating challenge of all – design a commemorative bath to celebrate Kohler’s 100th anniversary. According to Herbert V. Kohler, Jr., this was not to be any standard design. “We want you to design a new, old bathtub. It should be contemporary, graceful and beautiful. We’ll sell it as a product and call it the Birthday Bath of the Kohler Centennial.”
Doman tapped the company’s rich archives to study all previous tub designs, and tackled the bathtub’s legs first, deciding on a leg that featured ball feet and eagle claws. These feet would be the inspiration for the rest of the bath, which proved a bigger challenge than Doman anticipated. Kohler craftsmen produced the initial model to Doman’s exact specifications, but once he saw it, he knew it wasn’t right. It took Doman and his associate, along with rasps and files, countless design iterations and two days in sweltering summer heat to shave and shape the model to their liking. The Birthday Bath won multiple design awards and is still offered in Kohler’s product line today.
Doman was also an integral part of the development of one of Kohler’s most iconic products – the Environment, an immersive habitat-based wellness experience that brought adjustable climates and conditions into your home. Herbert V. Kohler, Jr. and his engineering team concepted and built the initial iterations of this never-before-seen home-spa enclosure, and Doman created the aesthetic to match. Cleverly, he used G.I. Joe dolls to appropriately scale the prototype models as they worked through measurements, dimensions, and accessibility.
Doman’s impressive collection of product designs includes more than just Kohler plumbing products. He also designed Parker Pens, golf bag carts for A J Industries, welders and power garden equipment, medical electronic equipment, the jackets of flashlight batteries, and furniture pieces. Doman’s designs won a multitude of design awards and were recognized by home and design publications, national and international design organizations, and featured at major tradeshows, design exhibitions, and World Fairs. Doman’s portfolio showcases the versatility of his design talent, but Kohler Co. always held a special place in his heart. “Working at Kohler provided a marvelous opportunity to work on a product and watch it vastly improve – a rare opportunity in design.”
Doman retired from Don Doman Associates, thereby concluding his work with Kohler Co., in 1986 with a special retirement celebration hosted by Kohler Co. at The American Club.
