Philippe Starck: Minimum Design

Description

Philippe Starck is one of the world's most prolific and famous designers. Well known for his luxurious hotels and restaurants, he is equally celebrated for his inspirational reworkings of everyday household items. Whether it be his iconic lemon squeezer, dubbed the 'Juicy Salif', or his colourful stylized toothbrushes, Stark's works are some of the earliest examples of 'democratic design'. This idea, that exceptional products should not be exclusive and elite, but be accessible and affordable, would eventually revolutionise modern design. Starck has worked privately for French president Francois Mitterand, decorating a suite in the Palais d'Elysee in Paris in 1982. He has designed products for a number of internationally renowned organisations including Microsoft, Lacie, Eurostar, Alessi and Fossil. Published in the same style as the successful 'Minimum Architects' series, the 'Minimum Design' series includes books about the major figures in the field of design, creators of objects that have become a part of our daily lives. The lamp on our desk, the chair we are sitting on or the glasses we are wearing have a genius behind to be discovered. These volumes will introduce in a practical manner the personalities and the works of the world's major designers by way of an historical-critical introduction to the work and life of each individual designer. An accurate selection of the designer's most famous objects arranged in chronological order and a critique of his or her work summariing the most significant reviews published in magazines and newspapers will complete the subject.

Christina Morozzi is the editor of 'Design' magazine and works as a curator of exhibitions in Italy and abroad. She is also a visiting professor at Domus Academy of Milan and University of Art and Design, Lausanne, Switzerland.

This series of books reminds us of the beauty of practicality by presenting the search for it in a remarkable group of twentieth-century designers. Seeing any work superbly accomplished is interesting, often inspirational; to be given insights into the processes of such work is beguiling and salutary to those of us who make things. --Parenthesis Magazine