Quote of the Day: Phillipe Starck on the Role of Design
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 10. 6.07
Designers should define their role broadly as agents of good in the world, and limit their work to 'legitimate' products: those that are needed, and those that can be made without damage to nature or -- through the unethical actions of manufacturers and investors -- damage to people.
-- Industrial designer Phillipe Starck, on the purpose of design
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I'm always amazed at how much you tree huggers can overlook when it's one of your heros.
If Phillipe Starck were to follow his own advice regarding designer ethics, he would have to write the world longest "mia culpa".
I mean do we really need a $100 hand juicer that by all accounts doesn't even work? Or - how about all of those plastic chairs on the recycle trash heap of history?
Perhaps you guys should get some ethics!!!
Perhaps you guys should get some ethics!!!
Perhaps you should get a life and stop trolling.
The first comment is valid. Philippe (sic) Starck is asking for trouble with this quote. I mean, goods "that can be made without damage to nature [...] or people"? Please, let's not dream. As for his own lifestyle choices, it seems all but certain that he spends many an hour in transatlantic business class. The principle he advocates is laudable, but he would do better to phrase it in a way that suggests he has thought about the inevitable contradictions.
this concept goes to all individuals - professionals or not. I do agree that as designers and decision makers - we should offer quality choices for the masses, but as the masses - we drive the market in what we want and hold to our values - manufacturer's will follow suit... catch 22 on this one.
take it easy, people.
starck's quote's inclusion here is not a blanket approval of everything he's ever done in his life - its a humble snippet that i, for one, find inspiring.
even if starck himself is pretty pathetic by his own definition.
These designers are more than happy to market the 'designer' tag when they make new stuff.
Let's stick their pictures on landfills - they should be happy to take credit for their 'designer waste'.
Actually, I doubt that Starck's chairs will end up in the recycle heap. They are quite likely polycarbonate, which is difficult to recycle. They will simply hit the dump.