Episode 5: The Prince of Plastic
Episode description
Karim Rashid is one of the most famous industrial designers in the world. In this episode of Artifactuality, he explores his early influences, including his family’s journey from Egypt to Europe to Montréal during Expo 67, and his adolescence in the Toronto suburbs.
Rashid is perhaps most famous for designing the iconic Garbo wastepaper basket for Umbra. The sleek, curved and utilitarian design is emblematic of his aesthetic, which often involves bright moldable materials such as plastic. During his career, Rashid has designed everything from vacuum cleaners and sofas, to lamps and bottles, for companies including Hugo Boss, Kenzo, Method Home, Tommy Hifiger, and Issey Miyake, all with his trademark elegant curves, smooth surfaces, and colourful palette. The Garbo and the smaller Garbini are both part of the national collection at the Canadian Museum of History.
LINKS
Transcript
Canadian Museum of History Blog: Prince of Plastic
https://www.historymuseum.ca/blog/artifactuality-prince-of-plastic/
Karim Rashid website
Article on #tide Ocean Material website: “Karim Rashid presents futuristic furniture collection”
https://www.tide.earth/en/news/karim-rashid/
Interview on the Architonic website: “Material Tendencies: Karim Rashid”
https://www.architonic.com/en/story/anita-hackethal-material-tendencies-karim-rashid/7001340
Article on Karim Rashid in The Canadian Encyclopedia
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/karim-rashid