Karim Rashid

Karim Rashid

Lover of all things pink and master of "blobjects" like Blobina, Karim Rashid believes we should "live in the modus of our time." We should design accordingly, releasing ourselves "from nostalgia, antiquated traditions, old rituals, meaningless kitsch and meaningless paradigms." This might explain why Rashid embraces futuristic design-because the future is now.

Designer Profile: Karim Rashid

1. Blobina for Meritalia

Part of his quest is to symbolize the future-now through creative iconography. Known as karimikons, Rashid's symbols-from organic globs to bar-like Xs-grace the designer's body as well as his objects, as is the case with the Kubo storage system.

Designer Profile: Karim Rashid

2. Kubo for Meritalia

Among his great body of work for luxury outdoor furniture company Vondom is Lava, a freeform bench resembling a cloud come to earth or a frozen river of lava.

Designer Profile: Karim Rashid

3. Lava for Vondom

But for every sinuous curve Rashid counters with a sharpened point or geometric polygon. His forms cover swoops and angles-and sometimes he combines the two. Ottawa Chair, for example, offers a droplet-shaped seat that culminates in a sharp peak.

Designer Profile: Karim Rashid

4. Ottawa Chair for BoConcept

And Rashid always offers a good dose of escapism. Float Sofa features a back that "doubles as a wall-like screen that provides an oasis of personal space." Float also provides a place to hang your hat.

Designer Profile: Karim Rashid

5. Float Sofa for Sancal

Karim Rashid should have been the set designer for Stanley Kubrick movies. I would love to see a remake of 2001: A Space Odyssey with a lounge full of Koop Chairs. Sheltered, attractive, and ovoid, Koop could certainly become a space-station staple.

Designer Profile: Karim Rashid

6. Koop Chair for Martela

Lighting is a particularly successful category for Rashid's visions, since his lights are alienesque, full of drippy shapes and extraplanetary forms. Nafir might be a musical instrument from another galaxy-yet to be discovered.

Designer Profile: Karim Rashid

7. Nafir for Axo Light

To say nothing of Cyborg, which is a playfully elongated alien or ghost (or both)-a perfect table lamp for the post-millennial world.

Designer Profile: Karim Rashid

8. Cyborg for Martinelli Luce

These are but a few of Karim Rashid's furniture designs. Check out his other work, including product, packaging, and fashion creations, at his official website.

Designer Profile: Karim Rashid

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