Artist Research: Philippe Starck

This post will contain my research on the designer Philippe Starck. 

Flos K S3 Pendant Lamp

 

The design of this lamp is minimalist and elegant, made from textured glass. The diffuser creates an even distribution of light. The design is timeless and will look good in any space, adding more of the lamps together can create a different and decorative atmosphere. 'His always-conceptual career was that design should be useful to as many people as possible as a measure of good design.' (Sharaf, 2022). The colours of the glass determine the mood that the light will portray, as well as the dimming features. It is a similar idea that I have for my own designs, the colour of the material will set the mood.

 

Bon Jour Unplugged

 

Another design is the Bon Jour Unplugged lamp, battery powered and thus cordless. It is a chargeable lamp with a USB-C port, which I think is a genius idea for smaller lights. It would feel the same as charging your phone. Its battery life is 6 hours per charge and charges to full in thirty minutes. It is usable with or without lampshade, with a variety of lampshade designs available. It gives the user freedom of choice in terms of style, in turn making it easier to sell. 'The high-technology combined with the ability to express your own creativity through changing the crown, makes Bon Jour Unplugged a smart selection for any environment.' (OfficeInsight, 2017).

 

Bon Jour Versailles

 

A similar design is that of the Bon Jour Versailles lamp, except this one has a dimmer switch and cable. The base is made from Acrylic Glass and the lamp shade is interchangeable. 'The Bon Jour Versailles collection reveals timeless lines of ineffable lightness and empirical modernity, that evoke the collective memory of the past, the present and the future.' (Fiori, 2017). 

 

Looking at these products gave me inspiration for my own designs, especially for the materials I might use, for example the acrylic glass. The designs are too contemporary for my taste, so I will be going with a more minimalist style. What inspired me most, however, is Starck's mindset on product design; 'Rejecting design simply for beauty or as a symbol of wealth, Starck hopes his work will improve people's lives by adding an element of humor and surprise to everyday actions such as brushing teeth or cooking.' (Design Index, n.d.).

References:

 

Fiori, B. (2017). Bon Jour Versailles the New Lamp by Philippe Starck. [online] Social Design Magazine. Available at: https://en.socialdesignmagazine.com/mag/design/bon-jour-versailles-la-nuova-lampada-di-philippe-starck/ [Accessed 11 Feb. 2024].

Sharaf, S. (2022). Philippe Starck: Ideology and Philosophy. [online] RTF | Rethinking the Future. Available at: https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/know-your-architects/a7456-philippe-starck-ideology-and-philosophy/ [Accessed 16 Feb. 2024].

OfficeInsight (2017). FLOS’s New Launch: Bon Jour Unplugged. [online] OfficeInsight. Available at: https://officeinsight.com/officenewswire/floss-new-launch-bon-jour-unplugged/ [Accessed 16 Feb. 2024].

Design Index (n.d.). Philippe Starck - architect - designer (1949) - Designers - designindex. [online] www.designindex.org. Available at: https://www.designindex.org/designers/design/philippe-starck.html [Accessed 16 Feb. 2024].