DQ editor Alice Blackwood steals 5 Minutes with Philippe Starck.
June 2nd, 2010
With Philippe Starck’s Design for Life program now airing in Australia on ABC2 Wednesdays at 8.30pm, we take a moment to ask him about his work and practice.
Q Tell us about some of the products you launched with major brands at Milan this year.
A One of the major pieces is the ‘Light Photon’. It is the new OLED light by Flos and [represents] an incredible revolution in high technology. It is unique in the world today – the first, and shows the future of what will be energy tomorrow.
It was a big project, we worked two years on it. You cannot imagine the technology involved [in creating] this nano-thickness, which is like a slice of energy.
With Kartell we have also launched the ‘Masters’ chair. It’s very interesting, it’s not a normal chair, but a silhouette of three famous, iconic chairs. It’s interesting to see this mixture of three icons and, by [combining] them all, I have made a new chair.
The ’Masters’ chair from Kartell
Q A lot of your design is about usability, can you tell us about that?
A I have spent 30 years creating this concept of democratic design. It is about raising quality to the maximum, and downing prices to the minimum, so as to spread design to everybody.
My productions start from $1 and go up to millions of dollars. My main goal is this idea of democratic design and we continue with this. People need it, so we do it. Now is the time to develop our ideas. [It’s so much more possible today than it was 30 years ago.]
Q What is your opinion on sustainability in design?
A Well, it’s not a choice. The best way [to tackle sustainability] is to invest in longevity. Recycling is just to fix a mistake. The best way to be ecological, is not to make a mistake.
First, is to buy less, and when you are obliged to buy, buy something with the right quality which has 20, 30, 50 years longevity in the quality of materials.
It’s silly to have a product that’s brand new for 20 years but obsolete in design. And silly to have something you love, but the quality is dead. That means today the best thing [to aim for] is timelessness, longevity, transition, and retention.
Special thanks to Classique, who made this interview with Starck possible. Starck’s XO range is available through Classique in Australia.
Watch Philippe Starck in Design for Life, premiering Wednesday 16 June at 8.30pm on ABC2.
Philippe Starck Network
starck.com
Classique
classique.net.au
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
In the pursuit of an uplifting synergy between the inner world and the surrounding environment, internationally acclaimed Interior Architect and Designer Lorena Gaxiola transform the vibration of the auspicious number ‘8’ into mesmerising artistry alongside the Feltex design team, brought to you by GH Commercial.
Discover the manifestation of century-old techniques realised with modern technologies
Channelling the enchanting ambience of the Caffè Greco in Rome, Budapest’s historic Gerbeaud, and Grossi Florentino in Melbourne, Ross Didier’s new collection evokes the designer’s affinity for café experience, while delivering refined seating for contemporary hospitality interiors.
After 4 years of extensive exploration into our encounter with the world at human scale, graduating students of Monash Interior Architecture are proud to present MIA 11.
The Arthur G Amelia Chair and matching ottoman is a sleek and elegant design with a contemporary edge synonymous to Arthur G.
Ruth McDermott and Ben Baxter of Sydney based design firm mcdermott baxter exhibited their trademark flourish in lighting design at the 2015 Milan Design Week. We hear what the duo thought about the fair.
The Scape Collection by Adam Goodrum showcases design innovation through function, versatility and inimitable style – making it worthy of winning the Best in Class Accolade Award in our industry’s most prestigious design event.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
Found within the verdant landscape of Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, Sona Reddy’s design for this authentic Andhra restaurant adeptly fuses textural rhythms with traditional materials.
Alona Klaro, founder of Klaro Industrial Design (KID), has set her sights on shaking up the specification game. As a product designer with expertise in office furniture, Klaro is looking to bring the “slow fashion” approach to fit outs and interiors, paving a way for commercial designers to address the evolving needs of modern workplaces […]