KBB - April 2009 - (Page 34)

Profile Born in 1966 in Toulouse, France, designer Jean-Marie Massaud graduated in 1990 from Les Ateliers, École Nationale Supérieure de Création Industrielle in Paris and formed Studio Massaud in 2000 with Daniel Pouzet. Known for a contextual approach that focuses on a search for the essential as well as the individual, he has tackled different aspects of design, resulting in a portfolio of award-winning work that includes everything from interior design and architecture to industrial products and furniture pieces, many of which belong to collections in museums If someone had asked you when you were a child, “What do you want to be when you grow up,” you would have answered…? As a child, I was fascinated by inventions and inventors and wanted to become an engineer. I found out later that invention could be about more than just technology and, in particular, that it was possible to invent something around a life scenario. What’s the biggest misconception about what you do? The biggest misconception about my work is when it is associated to a style—something between minimalism and organic. My work is based on a progressive vision of our lives and our environment. What “words of wisdom” can/do you share with others? In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, “We should be the change that we expect to see in the world.” What are some issues that you’re passionate about? I am concerned by the question of our future and see the current crisis as a simple consequence of a fundamental value crisis of the consumer society. “To have” has been advertised as a promise of happiness, but instead has led to over-consumption and deprivation, to environmental issues and to economic crisis as a result of speculation…I consider my work as a way to participate in changing these cultural references in order to build new economic models based on the idea of being, rather than having. How does one satisfy individual blossoming, collective harmony and symbiosis with our environment? I see these as the three major stakes in solving the issues of our contemporary world. Who are your role models? I could name very different people, from da Vinci for his global vision to Albert Einstein for his break from the standard structure of the world to Q&A Jean-Marie Massaud, STUDIO MASSAUD and design institutions in Europe and Chicago. Massaud is also responsible for defining the architectural images of the Lancôme stores and Renault’s booths at international auto shows, and has completed projects for companies like Armani, Cappellini, Cassina, Cacharel and Baccarat. In the kitchen and bath realm, Massaud collaborated with Hansgrohe’s Axor brand to create “Axor WaterDream,” his vision of the ideal bathroom. The project led to Axor Massaud, a stunning collection of bath ﬁttings and ﬁxtures that launched in 2006. Kurt Gödel for his brilliant understanding of the limits of math and the reform of logic to Steve Jobs for his vision within the market and his work on service and life improvement. Are there examples of architecture that move or motivate you to design? I am interested in and moved by traditional architectures, which are born from local understanding and have naturally and culturally changed with the times. They always take into account the context. I also appreciate the work of Renzo Piano for its global and contextual approach. He is able to free architecture from its ego in order to let the stakes of each project come to light. Tell us about your favorite/ideal customer. I consider customers—i.e., the consumers—as the voters. The purchase is a political act. My ideal customer understands the stakes of his role/position for the future of the world. He should be aware of his responsibilities. What is your favorite color? I like white…as the addition of all colors. People would be surprised to ﬁnd out that you…? I am a very shy person. What would you be doing if you weren’t in your current profession? A musician, a physician…or just a wise man. If you could have a five-minute conversation with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why? With myself…the true deep one. The part of God in each of us. s —Alice Liao For more of this interview, go to www.kbbonline.com/Massaud. 34 + K BB April 2009 July 2004 / www.kbbonline.com / The Ofﬁcial Sponsor of K/BIS www.kbis.com http://www.kbbonline.com/Massaud http://www.kbis.com http://www.kbbonline.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of KBB - April 2009

KBB - April 2009
Contents
Online Contents
Online News
Editorial
Focus
Trends
Products
Options
Profile
Abroad
Design
On the Hill
Mixed Message
Green
Tech
Additions
Education
Editorial Index
Ad Index
Favorites

KBB - April 2009