advertorial Q&A with Jon Olsen CEO, Vaask Describe your business in one sentence. Vaask focuses on merging high-end design with durable technology to solve the world's permanent public hygiene needs. How important is customization? How has it enhanced your products or relationships with clients? Our fi rst product was born out of a need for hand sanitizing fi xtures that can aesthetically enhance the designed spaces in which they are installed. We soon learned from designers that a one-size-fi ts-all solution is not suitable for these spaces. As a result, we now off er custom colors and metals, and we are working on graphic fronts that turn our dispensers into works of art. What is your design process? Everything starts with an idea that needs to be tested, an observation of something that could be made with a bett er design and bett er construction. Next I take the " prototype fi rst " approach. These prototypes are tested extensively with real consumers to see what really matt ers. We continually modify our product based on feedback from designers to make a product that solves their biggest needs. How do you incorporate sustainable/eco-friendly practices in your company? Vaask is built to last and AC-powered, so you won't need to replace batt eries. In addition, our sanitizer tanks are recyclable, and the 2.0-liter tank is refi llable. Tell us something surprising about your company that people may not know. Vaask was created, funded and run by the team that created Big Ass Fans. The same att ention to detail and manufacturing prowess is manifested in Vaask. 014 February/March 2022 hospitalitydesign.comhttp://www.hospitalitydesign.com