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Karim Rashid makes his mark
Karim Rashid has left an indelible mark on the design world. Now he's set his sights on Dubai's new creative talents.
- By Kelly Crane, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:03 June 26, 2008
Anywhere you look, you can see something designed by Karim Rashid. He's left an indelible mark on the design world. Now he's set his sights on Dubai's new creative talents.
An intimidating figure standing at almost two metres with tattoos of his most famous designs leaving a formidable imprint along his forearms, Karim Rashid has worked with all the international giants. Prada, Issey Miyake and Armani you'd expect — but Proctor & Gamble, Yahoo, Sony, Audi and Natuzzi? This man really has done it all.
So you can imagine the delight of the city's most popular design space, Traffic, when Rashid agreed to be a judge on a panel of the first ever Traffic Design Awards which will be held on Saturday.
With entries from students, architects, professional esigners and a mother-of-three, the Traffic Design Awards were open to anyone of any age residing in the Middle East or living abroad but holding a regional passport.
Rami Farook, owner of Traffic, says Rashid will put Dubai on the map by helping to create a platform for local designers and artists to compete and progress in the ever-expanding design market. “We are thrilled Karim will help judge the competition and are certain his expert analysis will only improve the standards of design in the future.''
Rise to fame
A typical rags-to-riches story, 47-year-old Rashid found himself penniless in New York in the early '90s and in some serious need of direction.
“Although I am 47, I have only had my own practice for 15 years. I started drawing objects, romanticising about the beautiful world I always wanted to shape. When I started my office I designed a collection of tabletop objects for Nambe in Santa Fe that became very successful and ended up in museum collections, selling about $6,000,000 (more than Dh22 million) of the products a year.
“I felt confident I could contribute meaningful and successful objects to the world, which was my childhood dream. In 1997 I designed the OH chair for Umbra which has sold over one million pieces along with the Garbo wastebin which have sold eight million to date.''
Rashid says early success gave him a very strong message that Americans want design but at an affordable price. And with more than Dh180 million of his work sold each year by more than 60 companies, Rashid was always heading in the right direction.
But although the money was welcomed it wasn't all about cash for Rashid, who has remained true to the design element of his craft.
“I think that I design objects that people love and want — not objects that are about design for design's sake or insular design that is unfriendly and not coherent with people's behaviours and sensibilities.''
Sketching around the world
Born in Cairo, Rashid describes himself as an Egyptian-Canadian-American. He says he knew he was born to design from as early as 5. “I realised my life's mission at the
age of 5 when I went sketching with my father in England drawing churches. He taught me to see he taught me perspective at that age he taught me that I could
design anything and touch all aspects of our physical landscape.
I never thought I would be anything else but a plural designer. I spent hours and hours just drawing and imagining a future world. I also believed new visions of building, cars, products, furniture, clothing, art, would be really inspiring, digital, infostethic, and we would have a utopic seamless beautiful aesthetic world.''
With secret ambitions to be a rock star, Rashid says he designs best when he's on planes — which is fortunate since he spends about 180 days each year travelling the world.
“I sketch in bed, the office, a restaurant, wherever and whenever ideas come to me. I am inspired when I am travelling, designing and coordinating projects from the road.
I love working on planes where I can really focus on projects. I can fill a sketchpad on a single European flight [that's about 100 pages]. I write proposals, answer questions, strategise, develop ideas, directions, and dream about what I really want to do not what I think I must do.''
New icons
Which brings him to the topic of design and architecture in the Middle East. Even in a place such as Dubai, Rashid says he still thinks there is more that can be done.
“The big issue is much of the Middle East is relying on very ancient icons but you wonder where the contemporary ones are. We desperately need new icons, new signs, new signals, new forms, new ideas, that shape a new Middle East.
We need a new archetype that is globally integrated and yet has something disparate and interesting to attract and bring the world to it. Every culture has to dig deep into its talent and shape new rituals, new traditions. For every ritual or tradition we loose we should gain another one, like Newton's theory of mass. We need the pyramid of the 21st Century, and not to rely on the decrepit rocks of 4,000 years ago. Paris needs a new Eiffel Tower.''
Rashid has scooped 200 awards and prizes in the past 13 years. “My most coveted [accolades] are my two doctorate PhD degrees. But to be honest at this moment the greatest award I can achieve is to have my objects in an average home … someone who knows nothing about design. The average home is my museum. The average home is my goal.''
Two finalists
Katrin Greiling, 30, has lived in Dubai for even months and has her own design company.
With a number of entries in the competition her favourite is a simple, black Perspex stool designed to represent a small dog, complete with tail and leather lead.
“I have really enjoyed taking part in this competition and it has completely shaped my life. I met all my best friends at Traffic people who I can relate to. I am excited about the results and will keep my fingers crossed.''
Adnan Ishan is a student from Dubai who says he dedicated his life to the competition for almost two straight weeks.
Ishan entered an impressive chair, called Cosy, made entirely out of corrugated cardboard slices, lay flat against each other in a giant sequence to create a solid piece of furniture.
He said: “I am proud of the piece and hope it will do well in the competition."A clear favourite with the public, Farook said the chair has received an incredible amount of interest from Traffic customers.
The competition
Traffic owner Rami Farook came up with the idea for a design competition after opening the design space around 18 months ago and realising there were few avenues of opportunity for the many art and design-inspired people living in Dubai.
He said: “Traffic has become the home of many creative people from across the region and I thought it was time to launch something to encourage something a bit different.
There are no design awards and this first experience has shown there is a lot of talent out there.''
More than 300 entries were received and Farooq, Karim Rashid and a judging panel whittled it down to just 10 finalists in three categories — object, chair and retail space.
Quick fire with Karim Rashid
Most enjoyable design project?
“I enjoyed designing the Semiramis hotel in Athens because I designed every aspect of the project from the spoon to the architecture.''
What's your favourite colour? Texture? Shape?
“Pink, High Gloss Plastic, Blob.''
What is breakfast for you?
“Organic high fibre granola with skim milk, mango and various berries, a glass of blood red orange juice, and a double espresso with organic whole milk.''
If you could have a super power what would you pick?
“Ability to teleport so I could be anywhere in a flash.''
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