Born in Cairo and raised in Canada, Karim Rashid has become one of the most prolific designers of his generation. The numbers speak for themselves: Karim has worked in over 40 countries, created over 3000 designs, and received over 300 awards.
“Design is not about solving problems, but about a rigorous beautification of our built environments, ” Karim states. “Design is about the betterment of our lives poetically, aesthetically, experientially, sensorially, and emotionally. ”
Karim received a Bachelor of Industrial Design in 1982 from Carleton University in Ottawa, and pursued graduate design studies in Naples, Italy with legendary designer Ettore Sottsass. He opened his own practice in New York City in 1993.
His award winning designs include luxury goods for Christofle, Veuve Clicquot, and Alessi, democratic products for Umbra, Bobble, and 3M, furniture for Bonaldo and Vondom, lighting for Artemide and Fabbian, high tech products for Asus and Samsung, surface design for Marburg and Abet Laminati, brand identity for Citibank and Sony Ericsson and packaging for Method, Paris Baguette, Kenzo, and Hugo Boss.
Karim’s has also designed interiors such as the Morimoto restaurant in Philadelphia, the Semiramis hotel in Athens, the nhow hotel the Berlin, and the Universita Metro Station in Naples.
He is a frequent guest lecturer at universities and conferences globally, disseminating the importance of design in everyday life. He holds Honorary Doctorates from OCAD in Toronto and Corcoran College of Art & Design, Washington. Karim has been featured in magazines and books such as Time, Vogue, Esquire, GQ, Wallpaper, and more.
In his spare time Karim’s pluralism flirts with art, fashion, and music. He is determined to creatively touch every aspect of our physical and virtual landscape.