Designer spotlight: Karim Rashid
Karim Rashid is one of the most influential designers of our time and he is coming to New Zealand to speak at Auckland Design Week
After a highly successful inaugural event in 2024, this March sees the return of Auckland Design Week for a second year. Drawing inspiration from international design festivals, Auckland Design Week is a celebration of the city’s dynamic design community, and its place within the global creative ecosystem. With the theme ‘Chance + Change’, this year’s event explores the transformative potential and ethical implications of technologies such as AI within the context of multidisciplinary design—inviting us to “delve into the transformative role of emerging technologies, challenging attendees to move beyond fear & embrace innovation.”
In a coup for organisers (and a treat for design fans), this year’s keynote speaker is Karim Rashid—one of the most prolific multidisciplinary creatives of a generation.
The Egyptian-born and Canadian-raised industrial designer has exhibited his art in galleries around the world, and has an extraordinary 4,000 designs in production—ranging from avant-garde sofas to practical silicone sink-stoppers. In the words of Rashid himself, democratising design is fundamental to his tireless output: “For the longest time, design only existed for the elite and for a small insular culture. I have worked hard for the last 20 years trying to make design a public subject.”
As well as creating products under his name, Rashid has created groundbreaking work for brands including Veuve Clicquot, 3M, Alessi, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, Citibank and Hugo Boss—along the way collecting over 400 local and international design awards.
In anticipation of his appearance at Auckland Design Week, we take a look through some of his most influential projects over the years.
If you have any significant Karim Rashid pieces that you’re interested in bringing to market, get in touch with our specialist team for a free, no-obligation appraisal.
Oh Chair
First envisioned for Umbra in 1999, the Oh Chair has taken its place as a classic of contemporary design.
Embodying a language that defines Rashid’s work—a soft, round shape, vibrant colours, and the use of economic materials— the polypropylene and steel chair combines durability and comfort with finesse, making it an enduring favourite in commercial and domestic spaces the world over.
The Oh Chair is part of the permanent collection of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA).
Garbo Waste Can
In 1996 Rashid reimagined one of the most quotidian household and office objects as a modern icon of design.
Inspired by Greta Garbo’s silhouette in a strapless gown, the Garbo wastebasket combines simple modern elegance with affordability and practicality.
It’s arguably the designer’s most recognisable and broadly appealing work, with over two million units sold since its inception.
Nhow Hotel Berlin
In keeping with the zeitgeist of its culture-defining location, the nhow hotel completely defied convention when it opened its doors in the early 2010s. Big, bold, and with a retro-futuristic feel, every internal element of the hotel—from fitout to furniture to amenities—was designed by Rashid.
“I always question whether the physical world is as experiential, as seductive, as connective, as inspiring, as customizable as the digital world. That is what I tried to achieve with nhow Hotel Berlin, by making a space that coexists with the infostethic world. The result is a music inspired hotel where sound is tactile, and a true immersive experience of color, texture, and vibrancy.”
SiliconeZone collab
As part of its 10th anniversary celebration, cookware brand SiliconeZone in 2012 launched ‘SiliconeZone by Karim’—making the most mundane of kitchen tasks a thoughtful and delightful experience. The collection was made up of ten items—from a foldable dish rack to a pod-like paper towel holder—in typically unusual yet highly tactile and practical form.
The Ottawa Chair
Perhaps as close to minimalism as Rashid’s work gets, the Ottawa chair is one of a range of furniture and accessories designed for pioneering Danish design brand, BoConcept. Taking inspiration from the forests of his home-country, Canada, the chair’s form is distinctly leaf-like, combining Rashid’s signature playfulness with Scandinavian simplicity and function.
Switch Restaurant
A cocoon of glossy, undulating walls, interesting textures and an ever-evolving interplay between light and shadow, Rashid’s concept for this Dubai lounge and eatery was at once fittingly futuristic and slick but also intimate and cozy. A full sensory experience, the space featured lighting which continuously changed colour from green to yellow to blue to pink as the day and night unfolded, as well as a backlit ceiling artwork of stylised Arabic phrases.
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear Karim Rashid speak at 2025’s Auckland Design Week, where his insights will undoubtedly inspire and challenge perspectives on the role of design in shaping our world. Rashid’s presence underscores New Zealand’s growing prominence on the global design stage, offering a chance for local creatives to connect with cutting-edge ideas and international design leaders. Whether you’re an industry professional or a design enthusiast, this is a moment to engage with the transformative power of design and its potential to shape a better, more innovative future.
Webb’s is proud to be a partner of Auckland Design Week.
On Tuesday 4 March, 6—8pm Webb’s is hosting an event as part of Auckland Design week, “Fashion, Design, and Architecture: Exploring Value and Craft at Webb's”.
Set against the stunning backdrop of Webb’s prestigious Jewels, Watches & Luxury Accessories auction, this unique event brings together fashion, design, and architecture to explore the hot topic of retained value in New Zealand’s fashion landscape. As brands continue to champion the “buy local” movement, the conversation around the enduring value of fashion and design has never been more relevant.
A thought-provoking panel discussion led by Karen Walker, and featuring Wynn Hamlyn, Rory William Docherty, Bobby Campbell-Luke, and joined by Webb’s very own Christine Power. This is a must-attend event for fashion enthusiasts, designers, and those interested in the future of value-driven fashion and design in New Zealand.
Tickets on sale midday Wednesday 29 January on the ADW website here.