Karim Rashid

Karim Rashid has designed an exciting new stacking chair exclusively for Offi to be introduced in May 2005 at ICFF. The Skool Chair will have some of the characteristic organic design features that Karim is known for, coupled with the molded plywood expertise that Offi has delivered for over five years. We know that you'll fall in love with the look and appreciate the feel when you get the opportunity to spend some time with it. Karim Rashid was born in Cairo, Egypt in 1960; half-English, half Egyptian and raised mostly in Canada. He received a Bachelor of Industrial Design in 1982 from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. He pursued graduate design studies in Naples, Italy, with Ettore Sottsass and others, then moved to Milan for one year at the Rodolfo Bonetto Studio. On his return to Canada, he worked for seven years with KAN Industrial Designers. While at KAN, he also co-founded and designed the Babel Fashion Collection and North from 1985-91. He opened his own practice in New York City in 1993. He has worked for numerous clients globally and his awards include the I.D. Magazine's Annual Design Review Awards in 2003 (2 categories) and 2002(3 categories), IDEA Gold and Silver Awards 2002, Daimler Chrysler 1999 Award; and the George Nelson Award 1999 among others. He has over 70 objects in permanent collections and his design work has been exhibited at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art, New York; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; The British Design Museum, London; Emily Carr Museum, Vancouver; Tokyo Gas, Tokyo; and The Groningen Museum, Holland among others. He has been a juror for several international competitions and a contributing writer for design periodicals. He was a full-time Associate Professor in Industrial Design for 10 years at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pratt Institute, Rhode Island School of Design, and the Ontario College of Art and lectures internationally. Karim has just released two CD's for Neverstop Music (www.neverstop.com) as well as editing the International Design Yearbook #18 for Laurence King. In 2001 Karim released his book 'I Want to Change the World' on Universe Publishing.