heath journal
Mural: Behind the Design
The Mural Collection is unique among Heath’s tile offerings, allowing us to share our love for—and expertise in—pattern and color through pre-mounted modules that take the guesswork out of high-impact installations.
It all started with the Twill pattern—a striking geometric arrangement that adds incredible dimension to any space—which is back in a brand new palette, with seven colorways.
Now, we’re expanding the collection with the Reed pattern, which draws inspiration from woven textiles. Each of the six colorways create a unique sense of movement and depth.
It all started with the Twill pattern—a striking geometric arrangement that adds incredible dimension to any space—which is back in a brand new palette, with seven colorways.
Now, we’re expanding the collection with the Reed pattern, which draws inspiration from woven textiles. Each of the six colorways create a unique sense of movement and depth.
We sat down with Dan Villarreal, Heath’s Industrial Designer, to talk about the origins of Mural, how he landed on the color palettes for Twill and Reed, and what advice he’d give to someone considering an installation.
Can you tell us about your role at Heath?
As an industrial designer at Heath, I help shape our offering by developing thoughtful products that embody our point of view on good design. You can think of industrial designers as the bridge between a product's beauty and its functionality. I have the privilege of working closely with many talented artisans, engineers, and other creatives to bring our ideas into reality. From initial sketches to final production, every step is a collective effort.
What prompted the development of Mural?
Designing with tile can be a lot to wrap your head around—especially when considering complex patterns with multiple colors. We wanted to simplify this experience for our customers without sacrificing visual impact. Mural leverages Heath's expertise on large scale pattern and color theory, and then packages it up nicely into a modular, ready-to-install product.
Can you tell us about your role at Heath?
As an industrial designer at Heath, I help shape our offering by developing thoughtful products that embody our point of view on good design. You can think of industrial designers as the bridge between a product's beauty and its functionality. I have the privilege of working closely with many talented artisans, engineers, and other creatives to bring our ideas into reality. From initial sketches to final production, every step is a collective effort.
What prompted the development of Mural?
Designing with tile can be a lot to wrap your head around—especially when considering complex patterns with multiple colors. We wanted to simplify this experience for our customers without sacrificing visual impact. Mural leverages Heath's expertise on large scale pattern and color theory, and then packages it up nicely into a modular, ready-to-install product.
What was the design process like?
Our world often feels dominated by digital tools and automated processes, which is why working with natural materials like clay and glaze is so rewarding. I find that taking a hands-on approach fosters a deep understanding of the materials—and a sense of responsibility to use them thoughtfully.
When designing Mural, each tile was laid out one by one to help us understand the nuances in the relationships between glazes. The physicality of the act was our compass, and it demanded real-time responses. The harmony in each color palette comes from a delicate balance of texture, value and hue, and finding that balance was really only possible by spending time with the tiles themselves.
Can you dive into the inspiration for the new pattern, Reed?
The art form of weaving was the main inspiration for this new pattern. When I slowed down and spent time with the tile, I started to see each piece as individual threads coming together and interacting to make something larger than the sum of its parts. Approaching pattern through the lens of weaving gives Reed a fluidity and movement that breathes life into an otherwise rigid material.
Can you give us insight into the six Reed colorways?
California has always been a deep well of inspiration for us and it continues to infuse itself in all that we make. The Reed colorways capture the essence of the diverse and iconic landscapes found here. From the misty blues and greens of the Big Sur coastline to the fiery reds and oranges of a Joshua Tree sunset, each palette pays homage to a very special place.
How about the new Twill palette?
The palettes for Twill are a real celebration of the range of color Heath is known for. Up-close, individual cubes in the pattern highlight the beauty in the relationship between tonal glazes in our palette and when stepping back, a rhythm begins to appear between the larger swaths of color and value.
Our world often feels dominated by digital tools and automated processes, which is why working with natural materials like clay and glaze is so rewarding. I find that taking a hands-on approach fosters a deep understanding of the materials—and a sense of responsibility to use them thoughtfully.
When designing Mural, each tile was laid out one by one to help us understand the nuances in the relationships between glazes. The physicality of the act was our compass, and it demanded real-time responses. The harmony in each color palette comes from a delicate balance of texture, value and hue, and finding that balance was really only possible by spending time with the tiles themselves.
Can you dive into the inspiration for the new pattern, Reed?
The art form of weaving was the main inspiration for this new pattern. When I slowed down and spent time with the tile, I started to see each piece as individual threads coming together and interacting to make something larger than the sum of its parts. Approaching pattern through the lens of weaving gives Reed a fluidity and movement that breathes life into an otherwise rigid material.
Can you give us insight into the six Reed colorways?
California has always been a deep well of inspiration for us and it continues to infuse itself in all that we make. The Reed colorways capture the essence of the diverse and iconic landscapes found here. From the misty blues and greens of the Big Sur coastline to the fiery reds and oranges of a Joshua Tree sunset, each palette pays homage to a very special place.
How about the new Twill palette?
The palettes for Twill are a real celebration of the range of color Heath is known for. Up-close, individual cubes in the pattern highlight the beauty in the relationship between tonal glazes in our palette and when stepping back, a rhythm begins to appear between the larger swaths of color and value.
Any advice for someone considering a Mural installation?
Be bold! Don't shy away from using Mural in unconventional ways. The possibilities are infinite and I can't wait to see how creative people get with it.
Be bold! Don't shy away from using Mural in unconventional ways. The possibilities are infinite and I can't wait to see how creative people get with it.
Behind the Scenes
Glaze Variation: Why It Happens, and Why We Love It
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