designer spotlight | Philippe Starck

Its often easy to overlook the genius behind so many of the iconic and superbly practical pieces designed by Philippe Starck. With a simple ideology which focuses on the simplicity, form, function and ecology of a product Starck strips the product back to its most primal elements but in a way which excites the user purely based on aesthetics. Imagine a world where every product had the ability to give the viewer a smile (if wry at times) when you saw them, a fantastical thought maybe but one which Philippe seems to inhabit! Take for example the masters chair produced by Kartell, its a re-imagining of a chair, its a renewed thought process bringing together the lines and silhouette of iconic chairs yet with a clever combination. Starck is not out to shock, he is accused of avant garde like it is inherently a bad thing! The design world owe Philippe alot of credit, he has changed the way we think about design and the products he produces are testament to the vigour and persistence of a genius at work.