Thoughts……..

I can’t see the mass market product design market being insulated from this celebrity phenomenon at all. Its only a matter of time before Sean Paul launches a lifestyle furniture range, it has to happen. But……..

What I don’t think will happen is that Celebs will become design Icons / influencers in the same ways that Karim, Alessi or Eames are. Their products are just as much about the art of design as they are about making money and their direct influence is felt rather more in design circles rather than by the public who only feel it through the ripples these massivly influential designers create in the design community.

Also I can’t imagine that designers Karim, Graves. Lloyd Wright etc becoming household celebrities in their own rights, rather they become the celebrities of the design world per-se. Where their influence amongst designers is forever growing but only in the circle of design.

In fact the only case I can think of where a celebrity becomes a product designer and makes an impact at a core design level is Lord Lindley the Queens grandson who has made a good living for him-self producing £50,000 tables and furniture sets. (Although some may argue that his design is un-original and pandering to his peer group rather than being inspired by vision and he is undoubtedly a poor example to have mentioned in the same pargraphes as Eames (Sorry Ray)).

Conversely an example of a product designer turning Celeb would be Terrance Conran with the successful launch of his Habitat stores. Perhaps the only example where a product designer gets serious public recognition outside the designer influence circle.

So I guess there is one example that I could think of where a product designer had become recognised outside the design world. I’m intrigued about what you mean Celeb-Endorser brand, if you mean that they are brands that influence other designers then I’d agree but I don’t think this is new.

Reebok is opening a celebu-level, upscale Rbk store in Hollywood complete with a VIP room stocked with Cristal, Dom Perignon and Red Bull

http://www.adrants.com/2004/10/reebok-becomes-celbu-sneaker.php

http://blog.ziffdavis.com/sync/archive/2004/10/04.aspx

Here we are 10 months later and really has anything changed with this story.

Celebrity Sinks She-She While Saving Apparel
http://www.adquack.com/article117.html

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