Philippe Starck was born in 1949 in Paris, spending most of his childhood days all by himself, sitting under his father’s table, dismantling objects then putting them back. He loathed the school he was studying in and would escape outside, to ponder upon things by himself.
Most of his works boasts of stylized, streamlined and organic lines, usually followed by an interesting story behind them. His designs are minimalist, basing work on moral principles, and ensuring he produces honest and good products. Not limiting his creativity to just designing a certain group of items, Starck has ventured into many design opportunities. From the design of a cutlery factory in Laguiole, where a sculpture in the shape of a silver carving knife sticks out of the roof to the design of affordable baby goods, he has this uncanny habit of making the ordinary become the extraordinary.
Despite his designs being extraordinary, he ensures that they were made affordable to the masses. With the help of technology, he has come up with over 50 simple items for the day-to-day and mentions during an interview “that when (one is) lucky enough to have a good idea, (one has) a duty to multiply it and to give it to the maximum of people."
He ‘works like a functionaslist and adds immaterialistic function’ into the goods he designs.
Most of his works boasts of stylized, streamlined and organic lines, usually followed by an interesting story behind them. His designs are minimalist, basing work on moral principles, and ensuring he produces honest and good products. Not limiting his creativity to just designing a certain group of items, Starck has ventured into many design opportunities. From the design of a cutlery factory in Laguiole, where a sculpture in the shape of a silver carving knife sticks out of the roof to the design of affordable baby goods, he has this uncanny habit of making the ordinary become the extraordinary.
Despite his designs being extraordinary, he ensures that they were made affordable to the masses. With the help of technology, he has come up with over 50 simple items for the day-to-day and mentions during an interview “that when (one is) lucky enough to have a good idea, (one has) a duty to multiply it and to give it to the maximum of people."
He ‘works like a functionaslist and adds immaterialistic function’ into the goods he designs.
Collection Guns, Flos 2005
A product which I found really meaningful was the ‘Collection Guns’ series of lamps. The series shows us the folly of war as many do not treasure the sanctity of life nowadays. They kill for many reasons and the basis for killing is usually unfounded. Below is a poem which accompanies the lamp series which was created.
To Life, To Death
First there were attempts at life, then the draft
of life, then Life itself.
It didn't have much value - life and death altogether.
It was something of an accident, without importance.
But Mankind kept working. A lot.
A civilisation was crafted so that Life could live.
Sublime by obligation, Life became sacred,
untouchable. The great, beautiful Life, guaranteed
to everyone, surged und survived until today,
the 21st century, the third millennium, the advent
of civilised civilisation.
Bravo! Rest in peace.
Crash! It's never what you think.
After just a short period of enlightenment,
the shadows return, fast, dense and menacing.
Rewind, death is at the door.
Nowadays we kill - religiously, militarily, civilly,
indeed very civilly sometimes. We kill out of ambition,
out of greed, for the fun of it or of the show.
Republics turn bananas. Tyrant are our masters,
Designed, manufactured, sold, dreamed, purchased
and used, weapons are our new icons.
Our lives are only worth a bullet.
The Guns Collection is nothing but a sign
of the times.
We get the symbols we deserve.
Happiness is a hot gun.
Glory to our dictators
To Life, To Death
Explanations:
The gold of the weapons represents
the collusion between money and war
Table Gun symbolises the East
Bed Side Gun symbolises Europe
Lounge Gun stands for the West
The black shade signifies death
The crosses on the inside are to remind us
of our dead ones.
I admire how Starck brings design products to the masses at an affordable price. It could have been a marketing strategy to sell cheap to attract more buyers and hopefully gain more profits. By doing so, design somehow loses its exclusivity but it would mean that more people would be able to get their hands on one of the designer pieces. Instead of serving the niche market, Starck decides to make his designs available to all. He has been the source of inspiration for many, with his minimalist and attractive design.
I like how he comes up with his ideas. Though minimalist in style, they never fail to attract one’s attention from afar. “Rejecting design simply for the sake of beauty or as a symbol of wealth, Starck hoped that his work would improve people's lives by adding an element of humour and surprise to everyday acts such as brushing one's teeth or cooking.” This statement summarizes Starck’s design concisely.
To Life, To Death
First there were attempts at life, then the draft
of life, then Life itself.
It didn't have much value - life and death altogether.
It was something of an accident, without importance.
But Mankind kept working. A lot.
A civilisation was crafted so that Life could live.
Sublime by obligation, Life became sacred,
untouchable. The great, beautiful Life, guaranteed
to everyone, surged und survived until today,
the 21st century, the third millennium, the advent
of civilised civilisation.
Bravo! Rest in peace.
Crash! It's never what you think.
After just a short period of enlightenment,
the shadows return, fast, dense and menacing.
Rewind, death is at the door.
Nowadays we kill - religiously, militarily, civilly,
indeed very civilly sometimes. We kill out of ambition,
out of greed, for the fun of it or of the show.
Republics turn bananas. Tyrant are our masters,
Designed, manufactured, sold, dreamed, purchased
and used, weapons are our new icons.
Our lives are only worth a bullet.
The Guns Collection is nothing but a sign
of the times.
We get the symbols we deserve.
Happiness is a hot gun.
Glory to our dictators
To Life, To Death
Explanations:
The gold of the weapons represents
the collusion between money and war
Table Gun symbolises the East
Bed Side Gun symbolises Europe
Lounge Gun stands for the West
The black shade signifies death
The crosses on the inside are to remind us
of our dead ones.
I admire how Starck brings design products to the masses at an affordable price. It could have been a marketing strategy to sell cheap to attract more buyers and hopefully gain more profits. By doing so, design somehow loses its exclusivity but it would mean that more people would be able to get their hands on one of the designer pieces. Instead of serving the niche market, Starck decides to make his designs available to all. He has been the source of inspiration for many, with his minimalist and attractive design.
I like how he comes up with his ideas. Though minimalist in style, they never fail to attract one’s attention from afar. “Rejecting design simply for the sake of beauty or as a symbol of wealth, Starck hoped that his work would improve people's lives by adding an element of humour and surprise to everyday acts such as brushing one's teeth or cooking.” This statement summarizes Starck’s design concisely.
Puma Starck Naked Body demonstrates the above point clearly as the idea which the bodywear derived from, the evolution story with a character created called, ‘Super Monkey’. It is interesting how the evolution story can be linked with undergarments and it makes the design of the undergarments even more interesting.
References
Rebecca Lowthorpe, 2002. Interview: Philippe Starck - Leading light. Retrieved on September 5, 2007, from, http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20020602/ai_n12625501/pg_1
Justine Suzanne, 2007. Philippe Starck. Retrieved on September 5, 2007, from, http://swindlemagazine.com/issue10/philippe-starck/
Starck Agency, 2007. Starck. Retrieved on September 12, 2007, from, http://www.philippe-starck.com/
Justine Suzanne, 2007. Philippe Starck. Retrieved on September 5, 2007, from, http://swindlemagazine.com/issue10/philippe-starck/
Starck Agency, 2007. Starck. Retrieved on September 12, 2007, from, http://www.philippe-starck.com/
