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Philippe Starck
Philippe Starck redefines everyday objects with visionary design and artistic innovation.
Philippe Starck (b.1949) is a renowned French industrial designer and architect celebrated for his extensive and eclectic body of work, spanning interior design, architecture, furniture, household objects, and vehicles. A graduate of the École Nissim de Camondo in Paris, where he studied product and interior design, Starck began his career with projects for brands like Adidas.
In 1970, he established his own design studio, Starck Product, which was later renamed Ubik. This venture marked the beginning of his prolific collaborations with leading design houses, including Alessi, the emblematic Italian design powerhouse. Starck’s partnership with Alessi, which also featured contributions from acclaimed designers like Michael Graves and Richard Sapper, transformed everyday homeware into imaginative, design-forward objects. His creations for Alessi, such as the Dr Skud fly swat, the Peltoo spatula, and the iconic 1990 Max Le Chinois colander, infused ordinary items with artistic flair. Most notably, his sculptural Juicy Salif citrus squeezer became emblematic of an era that valued boundary-pushing aesthetics, even as it challenged the balance between form and function.
While Starck’s Juicy Salif remains his most recognised design, embodying his penchant for innovation and provocation, his work as a whole reflects a commitment to creativity that transcends conventional definitions of utility, pushing the limits of what design can express and achieve.
