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Design For Life
Posted by: Keech on 7th Oct 2009 in Opinion



This is the BBC reality TV show on design that everyone seems to be taking about, with design superstar Philippe Starck taking the role of Big Brother. I'll assume you've seen it, but if not be sure to catch previous episodes at BBC iPlayer. If you don't know what it's all about then here's the concept in the BBC's own words:

BBC Two and Philippe Starck are teaming up for a brand new TV series to find the next great British designer. Internationally renowned designer Starck will be heading up a specially created School of Design in Paris. Ten aspiring designers with the talent, drive and vision to create the next 'must have' products of the 21st Century will be given the unique opportunity to learn and work alongside Starck and his team over a period of several months.

To add to that there is the tired old format of gradual elimination and winner takes all at the end. By the way, one of the candidates had designed an innovative cork-screw coffin, so technically that's Design For Death, but we won't split hairs.

So a few observations:

1. Britain has been turning out superlative, world-class design talent since the word 'design' was invented. Do we need a reality TV show to help us find it?

2. Some excellent things said about design in the first series. It's everywhere. Everything is designed by someone. It's a vital part of every minute of our life. Right on!

3. It's inspiring for young designers, provides insight for non-designers, and hell - it even inspired me a little.

4. Phillipe Starck is the 'bad boy' of design. Not sure why - he's rather charming.

5. There is much emphasis on the eye-catching, the new, the glamorous. Sure - innovation is the life blood of design but don't forget the mountains of methodical, modest, patient design work that goes on every day for the elderly, hospitals, schools and tools. Which of course could all be done a lot better...

6. Philippe Starck has designed just about everything from yachts to motorbikes to pasta to hotel interiors. Don't ask me why or how we (here at KD) do products, interiors, furniture, or clothing again. OK?

7. The students were chosen on the strength of their DRAWINGS. Amen to that and prospective job applicants and placement students (to KD) take note!

8. Cork-screw coffin, hangman's noose lamp, shoes that change colour to reflect your mood. I love them. But can these design skills be immediately transferable to say, detailing a reception desk or a piece of electronic technology (like a TV) where the market is conservative and highly competitive? No - it requires skill, knowledge and experience. Design is often rigorous, analytical and driven by very tight idea-crushing constraints. But hey - it's both worlds; to me the designer is both fantasist and scientist.

9. In France, we are known to be a pain in the arse. Quote from Philippe Starck.

10. I like the way Starck introduced his right hand man Eugene as ...the best designer in the world - a lot better than me.


CONCLUSION

Starck comes across as very funny, likeable and damned clever. And I found myself saying Amen to that rather a lot. But one thing sums it all up for me: for their first challenge in episode 1, Starck insisted that the students were transported to the supermarket in a WW2 army truck. He said it was because it was an example of near perfect design intelligence - not driven by marketing only driven by function. Now I've been banging on for years that design students, and indeed professionals are better off visiting the superb Imperial War Museum than the Design Museum, so.... Amen to that.


The hopeful designers...


And Starck in action...