Known for his acrylic creations, Philippe Starck stands as a world-renowned figure in modern design. Working with premier design brands such as Kartell, Alessi, FLOS, and more, Starck designs hundreds of furniture pieces and accessories. Philippe Starck designs range from the iconic to the cult favorites, and we’ve gathered our favorites to share here.
Who Is Philippe Starck?
Philippe Starck is a French designer and architect, born in Paris on January 18, 1949. He studied at the École Camondo and started his first company in 1968, producing inflatable objects.
Early recognition came through his interiors for the Paris nightclubs La Main Bleue and Les Bains-Douches. It also came through his refurbishment of the private apartments at the Élysée Palace for President François Mitterrand in 1983 and 1984. He works prolifically across furniture, lighting, hotels, and everyday objects.
Philippe Starck's Design Style
Starck builds his work around a few consistent traits. He favors transparency, working in acrylic and polycarbonate that let a piece read as light and open. He also champions democratic design, holding that well-made design belongs in as many homes as possible.
Wit and humor run through his objects, from a citrus squeezer shaped like a spacecraft to gnome-shaped side tables. His forms stay fluid and organic, translating classical silhouettes into single molded shapes. Together these traits give his catalog a recognizable logic across furniture, lighting, and accessories.
Philippe Starck's Most Iconic Designs
Louis Ghost Chair
Miss K Soft Table Lamp
FLOS produces the Miss K Soft Table Lamp. Its transparent injection-molded PMMA base carries Starck’s signature use of clear material.
Juicy Salif Citrus-Squeezer
Alessi released the Juicy Salif Citrus-Squeezer in 1990. Starck sketched the concept on a napkin while eating at a pizzeria, and the spider-legged form remains one of his signature pieces.
Toy Chair
Driade produces the Toy Armchair in a set of four that stacks up to 14 chairs high. See more from Driade for related pieces.
Small Ghost Buster Night Table
Eugeni Quitllet and Starck design the Small Ghost Buster Night Table for Kartell. Its transparent body keeps the form light beside a bed.
Bon Jour Unplugged LED Table Lamp
Gnomes Black and Gold
Kartell produces the Gnomes Black and Gold, a side table with a sense of humor that doubles as a stool.
Bubble Club Sofa
Kartell produces the Bubble Club Sofa entirely in plastic, which suits outdoor settings.
Mademoiselle Chairs
Starck designs the Mademoiselle Chair for Kartell, with a raffia version also available. The Mademoiselle collection includes upholstery from a collaboration with Lenny Kravitz.
A.I. Side Chair
Kartell released the A.I. Side Chair in 2019, the first chair Starck creates with generative AI through Autodesk software. Kartell produces it in 100% recycled material, and it is Greenguard Certified.
Bibliotheque Nationale Floor Lamp
FLOS produces the Bibliotheque Nationale Floor Lamp. It combines shelf surfaces with USB charging.
Masters Stool
Kartell produces the Masters Stool, which extends the Masters silhouette to bar and counter heights.
Romeo Moon S1 Pendant Light
FLOS produces the Romeo Moon S1 Pendant. Pressed clear glass surrounds a borosilicate diffuser.
We could go on, but we’ll stop here for now. Decades into his career, Starck’s designs still anchor modern interiors, from the Louis Ghost Chair in a dining room to the Bon Jour lamp on a nightstand. His catalog keeps growing with each new collaboration, and there’s no telling how many more iconic designs Philippe Starck will create in the years to come.
