Philippe Starck Overview

Philippe Starck appears to be something of a wunderkind in the design world -- many see his persona as a combination of the outrageous "bad boy" and the traditional French "je ne sais quoi." In fact, his foray into the world... [more]

Philippe Starck appears to be something of a wunderkind in the design world -- many see his persona as a combination of the outrageous "bad boy" and the traditional French "je ne sais quoi." In fact, his foray into the world of design stems from somewhat dark, existential roots. As the story goes, the young Starck lived in a perpetual state of existential teenage dread. To remedy the invisibility that he believed plagued him, he began to create visually interesting decorations. Starck has likened himself to a Christmas tree covered with ornaments -- as his eye-catching creations hang from him, he himself becomes visible. These humble beginnings did not prepare Starck for the grand success that he has achieved. Although he is not a trained architect, he has designed various hotels, pavilions, and homes in Japan, Europe, and the United States. He has also conceived and produced many household products and furniture pieces, including furniture for former French president Francois Mitterrand. Starck has since been approached to design boats, mopeds, the 1992 Olympic Flame torch, and even a new shape of pasta. Today, he works with his "tribe" in the studio and remains an enigmatic, reclusive figure. Escaping to remote locations with his family, Starck attempts to remove himself out of the stream of trends in order to bring a fresh viewpoint to his projects. [show less]