Designer: Philippe Starck, Beretta Pistol Hand Gun Lamp, 2005
Section 2 – Design Studies – Question 7
Background Information
Philippe Starck (born January 18, 1949) is a French designer known since the start of his
career in the 1980s for his interior, product, industrial and architectural design, including
furniture. The son of an aeronautical engineer, Starck studied at the École Camondo in Paris.
In 1968, he set up his first company, which produced inflatable objects. In the same year,
Pierre Cardin appointed Starck as the art director of his furniture sector. While working for
Adidas, Starck set up his first industrial design company, Starck Product, which he later
renamed Ubik, and began working with manufacturers in Italy, such as Alessi, and Kartell, and
internationally, including Austria's Drimmer, Vitra in Switzerland and Spain's Disform. His
concept of democratic design led him to focus on mass-produced consumer goods rather than
one-off pieces, seeking ways to reduce cost and improve quality in mass market goods.
"Why doesn't furniture show that everything is a political choice? I am a designer and design
is my only weapon, so I use it to speak about what I think is important." - Philippe Starck
Philippe Starck created the Guns Collection to make a powerful statement. The Gun collection
is a series of lamps consisting of table and floor models. Although designed by Starck, they
are manufactured and sold by an Italian company called Flos who specialise in lighting. The
Bedside Table model is a replica of a Beretta Pistol Hand Gun, whilst the Gun Table Lamp is a
Kalashnikov AK47 gun and the Lounge Edition Floor Lamp is a M16 Rifle.
20% of sales from the Gun Collection is donated to charity by Flos. The charity, ‘Frères des
Hommes’ is an organization dedicated to abolishing poverty around the world.
Target Market
This is a statement lamp
that could be seen in
very stylish interiors.
Due to the expense of
the product and the
materials used to
construct it, this lamp is
only available to those
able to afford it. It may
appeal more to males,
due to the masculine
imagery and colours
used. Having two
choices of colour may
appeal to a wider
audience, as it could
match different décor.
Function / Fitness
for Purpose
The fixtures provide
direct light for reading
and, at the same time,
diffused light to
illuminate the entire
room. There's an
electronic dim switch
on the cord which
makes it easy to set
the right mood, from
dim ambient lighting
to bright light.
Cost
This lamp is an expensive
piece of design costing in
the region of £1150. The
use of 18-karat gold
undoubtedly affects the
cost. The Philippe Starck
name also makes this an
expensive product, due to
it being fairly exclusive.
The production process
may also increase the cost
Ergonomics
This bedside lamp is quite
small in size at 42.6cm
tall. It would therefore be
easy to use. The lamp is
operated by a dimmer
switch on the cord.
Cultural / Social / Other Influences (including inspiration)
Philippe Starck's intention with the Gun Lamp range from Flos was to create objects which
remind us that our own state of well-being is the result of somebody else dying.
• The Gun Bedside Lamp design is based on a Beretta pistol hand gun and has a body made
of die cast aluminium with an injection moulded polymer overprint.
• The aim of the Gun collection is to draw attention to the global arms exports of numerous
governments: Each Flos Gun is an exact replica of a typical fire arm from a certain part of
the world. This Bedside Lamp represents Europe (Beretta Pistol Hand Gun), whilst the Gun
Table Lamp symbolises the East (Kalashnikov AK47 Gun), and the Lounge Floor Lamp Gun
stands for the West (M16 Rifle).
• The 18-karat gold of the weapons represents the collision between money and war. The
Flos Guns series is a condemnation against the profit made from war and the weapon
industry.
• The black shade signifies death.
• The crosses on the inside of the shade refer to the many lives lost to war and are also
reminiscent of gravestones. The entire Gun collection shifts the context to a kind of
memorial for the countless dead, who have been killed in the numerous and profit-oriented
wars. The crosses also relate to the S+arck signature cross logo.
Aesthetics
Any design by Starck
guarantees original
concepts. This sleek and
edgy lamp is designed
to shock due to the
imagery of the gun used
for the base. It is
available in two colour
combinations: 18K gold
with a black shade, or a
chrome finish with a
white shade. The
inscription in the base,
“Happiness is a hot
gun”, adds detail to this
area. The cross detail on
the inner lampshade
also provides interest
on an otherwise plain
shade.
Materials &
Techniques
/Method of
Construction
The 'gun' is made of a
die cast aluminium with
injection-moulded
polymer overprint and a
polished 18-karat gold-
plated finish. The shade
is matte black
plasticized paper with a
silk-screened gold
printing on the inside.
(The base is also
available in a galvanised
chrome finish with a
white lampshade with
silver print). This lamp is
mass-produced by Flos.
Safety
The base is quite heavy at
4 lbs, so is unlikely to
topple over. The
lampshade provides
protection from the heat
generated from the bulb.
As with most lamps, the
cord could pose a tripping
hazard.
Description of Design
This sleek and edgy bedside lamp is part of the
Philippe Starck’s Guns Collection, making a
statement while doing good. “Design is my
weapon,” says Starck, who donates 20% of the
collection’s sales to charity. The 18-karat gold
lamp makes a statement about the fragility of
life. In contrast to the gold plated body of the
lamp is the black shade, symbolising the links
between money and death. The shade features
silk screen gold printing inside, with subtle
S+arck signature cross decoration. The base is
embellished on top with the words Happiness
is a hot gun.
Durability
Philippe Starck / Flos
create durable, high
quality lighting. The base
is aluminium and so
would be very
hardwearing. The
plasticized paper
lampshade would be
more delicate, due to the
nature of the materials.
Style / Visual Impact
Weapons are a recurring icon and are used to see how far the boundaries of design can be pushed,
in pursuit of a healthy disgust. The style and colour choice is striking, creating visual impact due to
the imagery used. The simplistic style pf the shade contrasts with the detail of the gun on the base.