Karim Rashid

Karim Rashid(born September 18, 1960) is an industrial designer. He received a Bachelor in Industrial Design from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada in 1982 and completed his postgraduate studies in Italy. Rashid has created over 2000 designs, including projects ranging from interiors, fashion, furniture, lighting, art and music to installations. Born in Cairo to Egyptian and English parents, and raised in Canada, Karim now resides in New York managing his private design studio. To date he has had some 2000 objects put into production and has successfully entered the realm of architecture and interiors, designing the Morimoto restaurant in Philadelphia and Semiramis hotel in Athens. His work is in the permanent collections of fourteen museums worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Centre Pompidou in Paris, and he exhibits art in various galleries. Rashid was an associate Professor of Industrial Design for 10 years and is now a frequent guest lecturer at universities and conferences globally.

Design Philosophy

Rashid advocate!s a "democratic" design sensibility, suggesting that high-quality design should be accessible to the masses; both literally, in the sense that it should not limited to expensive, limited-run objects; and figuratively, in the sense that an aspect of good design is that it should be appealing to most people. He has designed objects for major brands, including Alessi, Georg Jensen, Umbra, Kenzo, Prada, Issey Miyake, and Method. He seeks to change the aesthetics of product design, and the nature of consumer culture.

Physically, his approach to design can be described as functional and holistic, aiming for the most simple, elegant shape that will effectively and ergonomically meet the requirements of an object's purpose. His [http://www.umbra.com/ustore/product.do?product=320150&colour=040 Oh Chair] for Umbra was a critical success, receiving praise in InStyle and the New York Times style section. He designed the Dirt Devil [http://www.dirtdevil.com/products/productList.aspx?code=MORE_WAYS_TO_EXPLORE&id=9 Kone] . In 2006, Rashid designed his first album cover art for ObliqSound's CD [http://www.obliqsound.com/releases/os_remix_vol2_011.html "The ObliqSound Remixes Vol 2"] and also created a [http://www.obliqsound.com/minireleases.html plastic handbag/carrying case] for the CD, fabricated by Melissa of Brazil and which now sells in fashionable locales like the W Hotels and the MoMA Design Store. In the July 2, 2001 issue of "Time", he was dubbed "the poet of plastic".

Personal Life

Rashid recently married Ivana Puric, after meeting her in her hometown of Belgrade, Serbia. Emails kept them in contact over time and Rashid claims he fell in love with her that first time he met her. The couple was married in their New York apartment in September of 2008. They reside globally, switching between New York, Belgrade and several other metropolitan cities.

Awards and Honors

* The Semiramis Hotel earned the Sleep05 European Hotel Design Award
* Honorary Doctorate from the Ontario College of Art and Design, 2006
* Honorary Doctorate from Corcoran College, 2005
* Pratt Legends Award, 2005
* A.D. Dunton Alumni Award of Distinction from Carleton University (his alma mater), 2004
* Best Retail Store in the USA, 2003
* ID Magazine Annual Design Review Best of Category, 2002

Publications

* "Design Your Self" (Regan Books), a guide to living
* "Digipop" (Taschen, 2005), a digital exploration of computer graphics
* a portfolio book (Chronicle Books, 2004)
* "Evolution" (Universe, 2004), a monograph
* "I Want to Change the World" (Rizzoli, 2001), a monograph
* Rashid edited the "International Design Yearbook 18" (Calmann and King, 2003)
* Two CDs on a boutique label, Neverstop

Trivia

Karim Rashid is the brother of architect Hani Rashid, principal of New York based architecture practice Asymptote.

Rashid has been [http://www.viridiandesign.org/notes/401-450/00422_the_spime.html credited] by Bruce Sterling with coining the term "blobject", but this is disputed; [http://www.stanfordalumni.org/news/magazine/2005/julaug/features/curve.html others] credit it to Steven Skov Holt.

External links

* [http://www.karimrashid.com Official Website]
* [http://www.karimrashidshop.com Shop Website]
* [http://www.architecture-page.com/go/people/profiles/karim-rashid-inc Online profile and products of Karim Rashid Shop]
* [http://www.thevibes.net/interviews/rashid.html Interview]
* [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1000244,00.html Time Magazine Article]
* [http://www.dirtdevil.com/Products/productList.aspx?code=MORE_WAYS_TO_EXPLORE&id=9 KONE Product Page at DirtDevil.com]
* [http://www.biomega.dk Biomega's Official Website]
* [http://www.bonluxat.com/d/karim-rashid.html Karim Rashid Furniture Designs]
* [http://www.obliqsound.com/minireleases.html ObliqSound Remixes Vol 2/Karim Rashid feature site]
* [http://www.luxist.com/2007/01/16/obliqsound-remixes-vol-2-limited-edition/ Luxist.com review of Karim Rashid's CD album art and carrying case for ObliqSound]
* [http://swindlemagazine.com/issueicons/karim-rashid/ SWINDLE Magazine Interview]