Philippe Starck

Born in Paris in 1949, he is one of the most original and creative designers of our time. He has obtained many important acknowledgements such as the Grand Prix National de la Création industrielle and the Honor Award of the American Institute of Architects, he considers himself as "a Japanese architect, an American art director, a German industrial designer, a French artistic director, an Italian furniture designer".  

Alberto Alessi & Philippe Starck
Starck began working with me in 1986, on the French design project Projet Solférino, organized together with the Centre Pompidou and François Burkhardt. I cannot help thinking of Starck as the designer terrible of our decade. He is a living example of my dream: design, real design, is always highly charged with innovation towards the world of manufacturing and trade, bringing results that need no longer be justified solely on a technological or balance sheet level. A true work of design must move people, convey feelings, bring back memories, surprise, transgress... it must make us feel, intensely, that we are living our one single life... in sum, it has to be poetic. Design is one of the most apt poetic forms of expression of our day. And I know that this great visionary still has plenty of surprises up his sleeve, despite his threats to retire!

"Alessi est un marchand de Bonheur!"
Philippe Starck