A true icon of French product design, a designer and inventor, a romantic and a madman - thanks to his unconventional designs, Philippe Starck has been characterised with many titles. His work covers almost all areas of human existence: in addition to furniture, lighting and kitchen objects, his creations include buildings, clothing, graphic design and vehicles of all kinds: motorbikes, cars and yachts. One of his most recent designs was created in collaboration with the space company Axiom Space, for which Starck designed a living module in 2020.
Starck began his professional career with inflatable objects in 1969 after studying at École Camondo in Paris. He founded his first design company 'Starck Products' in the early 1980s. At the same time, Starck worked with such renowned companies as Alessi, Kartell and Driade. In 1982, Starck was commissioned to design the living quarters of the then French President François Mitterrand in the Élysée Palace, which brought him international recognition. But it is even more the objects of everyday use for which Starck is known worldwide, such as the lemon squeezer 'Juicy Salif', the armchair 'Dr. Sonderbar' and the Compasso d'Oro award-winning sofa 'Bubble Club' - all design classics of our time.
Starck is concerned with making design objects accessible to as many people as possible, which is why plastic and aluminium are often used due to their lower prices. Designs by Philippe Starck feature simple, organic shapes and are reduced to a few colours and materials. The designer does not focus solely on the functionality and aesthetics of the object. He often charges his designs with humour to create positive emotions during everyday activities, be it brushing teeth, cooking or working.
Do you have objects by Philippe Starck that you would like to sell at auction? Contact our experts for a no-obligation valuation!
