Phillipe Starck

Phillipe Starck's work is both innovative and modern, however as an example, his Juicy Salif is not a great design. With the juice flowing over the sides and down the legs this produces a wide spread sticky mess that is not appreciated by any user. Although it is a useless lemon squeezer the product is smooth and beautiful, with it's eye-catching and provocative curves producing an organic ornament. The object has often been described as spider like and often being referenced as being inspired by 'The War of the Worlds' alien invasion.

His work is often referred to as 'over-designed' however, many of his more recent works seem to have seen this change. His ethos however, remains the same throughout all his life's work, looking at honesty, integrity and ensuring that a product is not 'a throw-away object'.

I am not particularly a fan of Starck's work. I believe that although his objects are beautiful and creative that without being functional objects they should not be sold with such a name. As an ornament the objects within question would be perfectly adequate, however as functional working objects they are useless designs. Function should not be completely forgotten about to enable form to be experienced. As a designer I work to be influenced by both form and function, as without either a product does not signify anything or work towards anything of any value.