Philippe Starck recently admitted that for him Design is dead and decided to quit this discipline because of its material and not useful role in society. And he aplogizes for what he has designed and produced during those past years, he says that all he has done is not useful and Design therefore is dead...simply not important!Reading this statement by Starck I cannot stay in silence, I want to speak out all my disagreement as designer and human being.
First question in my mind is: what is Design? Yes, what is it? Is it "style" or more than that? I believe that Starcks's artistic expression is mostly "style" therefore not so useful. If he thinks the same I gree with him, but let me tell you that Design ( with the big "D") is serious stuff, society specially today needs good Design in every domaine to get things better more useful more performing to help everybody life to be a better one and for all (and not only for those that have money to show off...got the point?).
To be a designer you go through sacrifices in school, internships, companies, freelancing, analyzing projects and innovating to improuve beauty and use. Design is a complex part of life, it is a projects that has to be in balance with your soul the needs the economic aspects the industry the market the potential client day-life.
When we design a car or an object or a motobyke (you have done one for Aprilia, but it was a sculpture not really useful to ride) or a bag or a furniture we contribute to improuve Quality, Cost efficiency, Timing, and we do all this thanks to our "Creativity" married to all those "cold" but important needs. We are able to provoke "Emotions", but also new efficient products for an easier use. Believe me I could go on and on...talking about old people needs, ergonomic issues, kids life, kitchen tools, handycapped people...
So Mr Philippe Starck you think that you must excuse yourself? Do it, but just for your case!
As a designer I don't! I am proud of being a designer and having changed my life at the age of 19 to hope to become one. I have been happy even when I started my first project that was a simple wheel plastic cup for a car in Italy. Today I see cars I have managed at work and estimate the success given by their beauty but mostly by all the smart solutions that those cars have (in Interior for example..), I see their prices under control without Design soffering of it. This is Design to cost, it is hard but rewarding when the product is coherent and well accepted and loved by clients. You know how many young good designers are behind those projects? Thanks to Design I learned how to use my cretaivity in an intelligent way putting it to the service of the good cause.
Design with the big "D" is not dead, it is alive and it will always be! It all depends how we interpretate this magic word. To be an artist, even e good one, does not mean to be automaticly a designer...most of the times it means only to be a good artist.
With all my respect,
Luciano Bove
Photo via architetturaedesign.it
