Karim Rashid

With over 3000 designs in production across luxury goods, furniture, lighting, and brand identity, Karim Rashid established his own design studio in New York City in 1993, following a robust early career. He earned a Bachelor of Industrial Design from Carleton University in Ottawa in 1982, then pursued advanced studies in Naples, Italy, under Ettore Sottsass, and worked at the Rodolfo Bonetto Studio in Milan for a year. From 1984 to 1991, Rashid contributed to diverse projects with KAN Industrial Designers in Canada, and concurrently co-founded and designed the Babel Fashion Collection and North (1985-1991). His influential work is celebrated in over 20 permanent collections at prestigious institutions globally, including the Museum of Modern Art and Centre Pompidou.

His ‘Ottawa Collection’ for BoConcept won a Red Dot Design Award in 2012, and he collaborated with artist Terence Koh for Peuterey that same year. In 2014, his expertise was sought for real estate developments in New York City by HAP Investments. Continuing his impactful work in hospitality, Karim Rashid led the multimillion-dollar makeover of the Temptation Resort and Spa in Cancun, Mexico, completed in 2016. That same year, his alma mater, Carleton University, awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.

In 2017, Rashid received the prestigious Lawrence Israel Prize from the Fashion Institute of Technology, further solidifying his status as a leading figure in contemporary design. He consistently delivers innovative and commercially successful projects for a global clientele, continuing to push the boundaries of design with his signature aesthetic.