Philippe Starck for Kartell

Apr

Philippe Starck for Kartell

Philippe Starck is one of the most influential European designers from the 21th Century. The son of an aeronautical engineer, Starck studied at the École Camondo in Paris. An inflatable structure he imagined in 1969 was his first incursion into questions of materiality, and an early indicator of Starck’s interest in where and how people live. Growing up with his father’s drawing boards and hands on projects, he shortly became known for his taste and original style.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Through his “democratic design” concept, Starck campaigns for well-designed, quality objects that are not just reserved for an elite. He would put this utopian idea into practice by increasing production quantities to cut costs and by using mail-order. And he also has a huge concern for the environment and the sustainability of the pieces he creates, which is clearly visible in his projects.

But what is the relation between this international known designer and Kartell, one of the symbols of Italian design around the world that will be exhibiting in Milan Design Week 2015?

Starck began designing products for Kartell in the company’s uprise in the 80s and 90s. Mixing the company’s desire to develop eco-friendly, contemporary plastic furniture with the designer’s style was the beginning of a beautiful partnership.

Ever since the first Starck product was released under the Kartell name, the popularity of Starck’s designs increased significantly. Utilizing polycarbonate, a plastic that can be broken down for recycling purposes, these designs began popping up everywhere from hotels, weddings, restaurants and more.

His best-known creations are his unique chairs. These are some popular and unique models:

But in Salone Internazionale del Mobile di Milano, Kartell will present fresh news from Philippe Starck. The the Aunts&Uncles collection faces an evolution in its colors and finishings and widens with new items. As a result of an extraordinary formal and functional innovation, these lamps represent concretely and tangibly the boldest and most virtuous examples of injection technology of polycarbonate in a single mold.