Philippe Starck
The Frenchman Philippe Starck is one of the most popular designers of the present and a well-known representative of the new design. His designs are extremely versatile and range from simple everyday objects to spectacular interior designs. There is hardly a place where his objects are not represented.
The career of Philippe Starck
Philippe Starck is born in Paris in 1949 as the son of an aeronautical engineer. Until 1967 he studied at the Paris École Camondo. Early on he celebrates the first successes with a series of inflatable furniture. After setting up his own distribution company, he offers the initial contract designs under his own name.
From 1969 Philippe Starck takes on the task of art director for Pierre Cardin for two years. He developed nearly 70 furniture designs before he became self-employed as a designer. He also takes on first interior contracts for nightclubs, bars and discotheques. 1980 is the founding year of Starck Products. The objective of the company is to create a democratic style. Under a catchy name Starck offers various innovative and unusual design furniture.
Starck becomes a world famous star designer by an order of the then French President: François Mitterrand entrusted him with the interior design of the Elysée Palace. After he worked as an interior designer in the Café Costes in Paris, his name is on everyone's lips: Starck furnishes numerous hotels, shops and nightclubs. With furniture and accessories manufacturers he becomes more and more popular because his ideas can be perfectly offered on a wider market.
From 1984 onward Starck designs, amongst others for Driade, unique and sensational furniture. But he does not restrict his talent to furniture: Whether toothbrush, motorcycle or pasta - the creative design ideas of Philippe Starck are extremely versatile. Real design icons such as the Juicy Salif juicer for Alessi or the elegant table lamp Ara for Flos are created.
Since the mid-nineties Philippe Starck developed innovative plastic chairs for the Italian manufacturer Kartell. His creativity is undiminished: One of his most recent projects is the interior of the Virgin Galactic space ship soon carrying space tourists into space.
Innovative designs of Philippe Starck
Although Starck is considered the enfant terrible in the scene, the large number of his prizes and awards and the strong presence of his designs in well-known collections are impressive. Last but not least the huge sales of his designs make him one of the most important designers of our time.
With Juicy Salif (1990) Philippe Starck has created a rocket-shaped lemon squeezer for Alessi, in which the functionality is subordinate to the extravagant shape - a true design classic.
The legendary three-legged armchair Costes is one of the most famous designs by Philippe Starck. It is produced since 1985 by Driade.
Another classic is the stackable chair Dr. No by Kartell: The perfect combination of aesthetics and functionality makes the chair a real all-rounder. Also available at Kartell: the successor-chair Dr. Yes.
For further information please visit Philippe Starck's homepage.
