Starck TV

Design for Life
Starck's vitriole was not far off the mark at all. These twelve Britons were operating in France yet the locals had to bring the project to them in a foreign language. This is perhaps fair enough as the show was destined for UK consumption. But did the twelve Brits not twig that they needed to be crystal clear in their use of even English language to their French hosts? Their sloppy use of grammar and lack of clarity in vocabulary and presentation showed a woeful lack of awareness of the needs of those around them. This was a parallel of their design ideas. Did anyone of them present their "ideas" with punch or verve? No. Rather than being young high-flying design experts, they came across as na?ve novices, particularly in later stages when they had virtually nil conception of manufacturing restrictions or publicity angles. In fact the publicists actually provided the ideas. True, the brief was sometimes sketchy and the entire series has to be taken with a pinch of salt: it was all about getting 5 hours of Starckness on the British screen and far less about the other 1,000+ hours spent in Paris. However, from the 12, not one shone. Without Starck's highly staged and phoney attitude, the whole show would have been a dud. The winner seemed to score thanks to a dire foray into French read aloud from a sheet, scarcely intelligible. Her product seemed to attract praise for being a smooth work of art but at no time was the question raised as to its fragility - not to mention health and safety issues related to its claim that it could support people. The old infirm French ladies - who spoke lovely English - were not allowed near the product, were they? I think we can be sure that the winning product and designer will slip into terminal anonymity. A great PR coup for France, no doubt they footed the production costs, and the whole just cemented Starck's opening assertion that there had been no British design to speak of since Conran. As a further demonstration of the cringeworthy Brits abroad, the show was engrossing, and Starck was about right in his not hollow threat to cut the series short at half way. Perhaps he will have achieved his thinly veiled ambition to become a Gallic Sir Alan Sugar, but if the series is to run again, the selection of candidates and the clarity of brief will need to be reviewed very carefully indeed.

whatever
Oh well then, if designers should only care about whether their designs "hold any weight" with the average family, they may as well all pack up now. Think back to the Devil Wears Prada where the editor patiently explains the development of the colour, cerillion blue... It's up to the editors of professional trade magazines to maintain and defend the aspirations of our designers. Without them, you wouldn't have a magazine.