Philippe Starck

 b. Paris, France 1949

Philippe Starck has designed a wide range of consumer goods and interiors. He focuses on mass-produced consumer goods rather than one-off pieces, seeking ways to reduce cost and improve quality in mass-market goods, which makes him a truly democratic designer. His products have sensual, appealing forms suggestive of character or personal identity which are often given clever or whimsical names – such as the Rosy Angelis lamp, the La Marie chair and Prince Aha stool. Two of Starck's more well-known designs include stylized toothbrushes (1989) and a sleek juicer dubbed the Juicy Salif (1990). His work can be seen in the Musée National d'Art Moderne (Paris), the Musée des Arts Décoratifs (Paris), MOMA and the Brooklyn Museum in New York, the Vitra Design Museum (Basel), and the Design Museum (London).

Note from the archives: Photo above shows Starck with Blake Woodall, the founder of the Starck Club. The club opened in Dallas in 1984, in a converted warehouse north of downtown. The interiors designed by Starck included moveable floor to ceiling curtains at the entrance and throughout the club to divide the cavernous space into private and public areas. Furniture included Starck's now signature white slip-covered sofas and the Miss Dorn chair, designed especially for the space. In 1986, Grace Designs launched Starck's new line of furniture, Ubik for Driade including the Pratfall chair of Cafe Costes fame, at a special exhibition at the club.

The club is infamous for giving birth to raves, and amazing performances by Grace Jones, along with celebrity visits by Rob Lowe, George W. Bush, Princess Stephanie of Monaco and Maureen Reagan. There are two documentaries on the Starck Club, and a Facebook page dedicated to its memory. 

Starck Club Furnishings including Miss Dorn chair               Grace Jones performing at the Starck Club