Career

Rashid 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. Rashid went on to work with KAN Industrial Designers in Canada. There he co-founded and designed the Babel Fashion Collection and North between 1985-91. In 1992 Rashid opened a private design studio in New York City.

Rashid's designs include the Garbo waste can, the Oh Chair for Umbra, a concept store for Giorgio Armani, manhole covers for the sewers of New York, perfume bottles for Kenzo, bobble water bottle, watches and tableware for Alessi, lighting for Artemide and products for Veuve Clicquot. He has also worked with Audi, Samsung, Swarowski and Armani. In addition Rashid has designed for Kenzo, Method, Bombay Saffire, Finé Water Japan, Sexy Beast USA, Davidoff, Issey Miyake, Estee Lauder

His work, all sensual curves and bright colours, is instantly recognizable and has been variously described (by Rashid himself) as "sensual minimalism" and "blobjects".

Karim has recently been selected to design several real estate developments in New York City for HAP Investments, a New York City based International investment group.

Karim’s work is featured in 20 permanent collections and he exhibits art in galleries worldwide including the MoMA, Centre Pompidou, and SFMOMA. He holds honorary doctorates from the Ontario College of Art & Design, Pratt Institute and Corcoran College of Art & Design. Karim is a frequent guest lecturer at universities and conferences speaking about the importance of design in everyday life.

In 2012, Danish designer and manufacturer BoConcept collaborated with Rashid to create the Ottawa Collection, which won the Red Dot Design Award.

In 2016, it was announced that Rashid is designing the multimillion-dollar makeover of Temptation Resort and Spa, in Cancun Mexico.

Personal life

Rashid was born in Cairo, Egypt to an Egyptian father and English mother. He was born with the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck and had developmental delays and a speech impediment. The family emigrated to Canada where Rashid was raised. Rashid attended high school in Mimico, Toronto.

Karim was formerly married to digital designer Megan Lang, but the couple divorced. Rashid married Ivana Rashid (née Puric) in 2008. Together they have one child, Kiva Rashid.

Rashid is the brother of famed architect, Hani Rashid, of Asymptote.

Karim is known for wearing all white or all pink clothing.

Publications

• 2014 Karim Rashid: From the Beginning
• 2013 Karim Rashid - Ideologija ljepote Tihomir Milovac. (in Croatian). Zagreb: Muzej Suvremene Umjetnosti, 2013
• 2012 I Protagonisti del Design: Karim Rashid. Milan: Hachette, 2012
• 2012 Sketch: Karim
• 2009 Karim Rashid Space: The Architecture Of Karim Rashid
• 2006 Design Your Self: Rethinking the Way You Live, Love, Work, and Play
• 2005 I Want To Change The World
• 2005 Digipop
• 2004 Karim Rashid: Evolution New York, NY: Universe, 2004. ISBN 978-0789311979
• 2004 Karim Rashid. San Francisco: * Marisa Bartolucci, Raul Cabra. Karim Rashid. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, ISBN 9780811842082
• 2003 International Design Yearbook 18
• 2001 I Want to Change the World. New York, NY: Universe Rizzoli, 2001. ISBN 978-0789305312

Awards and honors

Rashid has won the George Nelson Award in 1999, the Canadian Designer of the Year award in 2001, and the Red Dot Design Award in 2012.

In 2010 Rashid won the Pentaward, a worldwide packaging design awards competition. The award (silver) was proudly won jointly by Box House and Karim Rashid Studio. He is the very first designer to receive this special Pentaward for his creative excellence in packaging design.

Other awards include:

2015

• Architizer A+ Award Finalist, Karim Rashid for VONDOM, the VOXEL chair

2013

• Red Dot Communication Design Award- Best of the Best: Paris Baguette Koffy
• Good Design Award: Riva1920 Fiamma Lamp
• Good Design Award: B-LINE Gemma Chair
• Good Design Award: Vondom Sloo Chair
• Good Design Award: TVS Pots & Pan Collection
• Good Design Award: Anestasia Vodka
• Interior Design Best of Year Award: Muma Juga Chair
• Interior Design Best of Year Finalist: Glamora Multiverse Wallcovering
• Interior Design Best of Year Finalist: Martela Koop Chair
• Interior Design Best of Year Finalist: Vondom Twist and Shout Rug
• Interior Design Best of Year Finalist: Bata Shoe Museum
• The Great Indoors Award Finalist: Naples Universita Metro Station
• PentAward Gold: Anestasia Vodka
• PentAward Gold: Paris Baguette K offy
• Dieline Packaging Award: Paris Baguette Koffy
• Lapiz de Acero Award: Muma Juga Chair
• Red Dot Award: BoConcept Ottawa Collection
• Spark Product Finalist: Artemide Empirico
• Spark Space Finalist: Amoje Food Capital
• Spark Space Finalist: Bata Shoe Museum Out of the Box Exhibition
• Spark Communication Finalist: Stolen MiLanGo
• Spark Silver: Hyundai PYL Brand Identity
• Spark Product Finalist: Artemide Empirico
• Spark Product Finalist: Artemide Solium
• Spark Product Finalist: B-Line Gemma
• Spark Product Finalist: Newform Hook Desk
• Spark Product Finalist: Vondom Sloo
• Spark Product Finalist: TVS Hook Pans

2012

• Good Design Award: Silicone Zone Scrub Brush
• Good Design Award: Axo Nafir Pendant
• Good Design Award: Artemide Doride
• Good Design Award: BoConcept Ottawa Dining Table and Chair
• Good Design Award: Nimbus Squeeze Pendant Lamp
• Good Design Award: Ceramica Cielo Amedeo Sink
• Good Design Award: Fun Factory Mr. Pink Dildo
• Designer Magazine: Simon Taylor Award for Lifetime Achievement
• AZ Award 2012 Finalist: Naples Universitá Metro Station
• Design Turkey Good Design Award: Solen Milango
• iF Product Design Award: Siliconzone foldable dish rack
• iF Packaging Design Award: Bobble Jug
• Interior Design Best of Year Award Honoree: Axo Nafir Pendant
• Interior Design Best of Year Award Honoree: Tonelli Kaddy
• Spark Product Design Award: Bobble Jug
• Spark Product Design Award: Axo Nafir Pendant
• Spark Space Design Award: Queen's University Human Media Lab
• Spark Communication Award: AnestasiA Vodka
• Red Dot Award - Product Design: Silicone Zone Folding Dish Rack
• Red Dot Award - Product Design: nhow Hotel Berlin Elevators
• MicroLiquor Spirit Awards Gold Packaging Design Award: AnestasiA Vodka
• MicroLiquor Spirit Awards Triple Gold Medal: AnestasiA Vodka
• Granddesign Etico: Morfeus Play, Elephant Parade
• World Architecture News Award: Sancal Float Sofa
• Passenger Terminal World Trendsetter: Kopperscape, Edmonton Airport, Canada
• Karim inducted into the Interior Design Hall of Fame
• Interior Design Best of Year Awards: Oaza Zdravlja Pharmacy
• Interior Design Best of Year Awards: Vondom Surf Chaise
• Interior Design Best of Year Awards: Alloy tiles
• Pentaward Gold - Other Markets: Bobble Water Bottle
• MDIMP Annual Restaurant & Bar Space Award: Switch Restaurant
• Spark Awards - Gold: Bobble Water Bottle
• Kitchen Innovation of the Year at the Design Awards: Karim Rashid for Gorenje
• Golden Pin Design Mark: Asus EeePC 1008P Karim Collection
• Coverings 2010: Ceramic Tiles of Italy Honors: Refin Ceramiche tiles in Prizeotel, Bremen
• IDSA Industrial Design Excellence Award Finalist: Asus EeePC 1008P Karim Collection
• GOOD DESIGN Award: Bobble Water Bottle
• GOOD DESIGN Award: Asus EeePC 1008P Karim Collection
• Pentaward Gold - Other Markets: Slice
• Pentaward Gold - Luxury: HUGO Packaging
• Pentaward Silver - Beverages: Paris Baguette Eau Water
• Pentaward Silver - Beverages: Paris Baguette Jus
• Pentaward Silver - Other Markets: Aekyung Bubble
• Pentaward Silver - Other Markets: iiamo Baby Bottle
• Red Dot Communication Award - Information Design/Public Space: Fun Factory Flagship Store, Berlin
• Red Dot Communication Award - Posters: Proposte 2010 Identity
• Red Dot Communication Award - Packaging: Paris Baguette Eau
• Red Dot Communication Award - Packaging: Aekyung Bubble Dishwashing Foam
• International Card Manufacturer Award: Citi One Piece Mobile Payment Tag Card
• Kind + Jugend Innovation Award: iiamo Go Baby Bottle
• Creative City Challenge by WFB Wirtschaftsförderung Bremen: Best Collaboration Award:
• Prizeotel, Bremen
• I.D. Magazine Annual Design Review Honorable Mention Environment: Oaza Zdravlja Pharmacy
• I.D. Magazine Annual Design Review Design Distinction Furniture: Albed Blow Door
• DesignEX 2010 New Product Award: Saturn Skape Bath
• Red Dot distinction for high design quality: Prizeotel Hotel, Bremen City
• Red Dot distinction for high design quality: Albed Blow and Ring Door
• Red Dot distinction for high design quality: Melissa High Heel
• Red Dot distinction for high design quality: Artemide Cadmo and Doride Lamp
• ADEX Platinum Award of Design Excellence: Nambe Morphik 2-Tier Server
• iF product design award: Artemide Cadmo Lamp
• HolidayCheck Specialty Award: Prizeotel, Bremen-City
• Tre Number One Award 2010: Semiramis Hotel, Athens
• Hotelimmobilie de Jahres Honoree: Prizeotel, Bremen-City

2009

• ADI Design Index 2009: Artemide Azio lamp
• GOOD DESIGN Award: iiamo Go Baby Bottle
• GOOD DESIGN Award: Slide Koncord Stool
• GOOD DESIGN Award: Artemide Doride Lamp
• Interior Design Best of Year Product Design Honoree: iiamo Go Bottle
• Special Pentaward for creativity in packaging design
• IDSA Industrial Design Excellence Award Finalist: Feek Snap Chair
• Best of Canada for Product Design: Nienkamper Isola 8 Couch
• Popai Gold Medal for Technics and Innovation: Veuve Clicquot Globalight
• Actualidad Economica award for Best Ideas of the Year: Veuve Clicquot Globalight
• Red Dot distinction for high design quality: Saturn Bath
• Red Dot distinction for high design quality: Feek Snap Chair
• Red Dot distinction for high design quality: Meritalia Blobina
• Red Dot distinction for high design quality: Parador Laminate Flooring
• ADEX Gold Award of Design Excellence: Nambe Relief Collection

2008

• GOOD DESIGN Award: Della Rovere Uno Desk
• GOOD DESIGN Award: Slice Precision Cutter
• Forbes Traveler 50 Best New Hotels: myHotel Brighton
• Cersaie Award 2008 Best Exhibition Stand: Refin Ceramiche by Karim Rashid
• IDSA Industrial Design Excellence Award Silver: Gaia & Gino Creemy
• Electronic House 2008 Product of the Year: OmniMount Prism 50
• Compasso d Oro Award: Signaling for the Horm Tide cabinet
• ADEX Award for Design Excellence: Azrock by Tarkett Karim Kolors Tile
• Red Dot distinction for high design quality: Gaia & Gino Creemy Tea & Coffee Set
• Red Dot distinction for high design quality: Bonaldo Poly Chair

2007

• GOOD DESIGN Award: Ronson Biaxial Lighter
• GOOD DESIGN Award: Bonaldo Poly Chair
• GOOD DESIGN Award: Nienkamper Kloud Seating System
• GOOD DESIGN Award: Martinelli Sike Door Handle
• GOOD DESIGN Award: Artemide Cadmo Lamp
• Karim s design for the Deutsche Bank Lounge is honored with a FAMAB ADAM Award
• D&D Building s Stars of Design: Best Product Designer 2007
• Gioia Casa Best Design 2007: Bonaldo Poly Chair, Gaia & Gino Creemy Set, Cisal Kawa faucet,
• Artemide Cadmo
• I.D. Magazine Annual Design Review Honorable Mention Packaging: KenzoAmour
• Best of NeoCon: Gold Award, Resilient Flooring: Azrock by Tarkett Karim Kolors Tile
• International Furnishings and Design Association Circle of Excellence Awards: Karim Rashid,
• Industrial Designer
• Fifi Awards Best Packaging, Women s Prestige & Fragrance of the Year, Nouveau Niche:
• KenzoAmour
• Cooper Hewitt National Design Awards 07: Product Design Finalist
• ADEX Award for Design Excellence: Nienkamper Kloud Collection
• Red Dot distinction for high design quality: Magppie Tantalo Bottle Opener
• LaCie Skwarim inducted into the permanent collection of the Centre Pompidou, France
• Red Dot distinction for high design quality: KenzoAmour
• EXTRACTS Best New Product Awards: Sexy Beast
• iF product design award: LaCie Skwarim

2006

• GOOD DESIGN Award: Normann Copenhagen Orgo Hanger
• Italian Gioia Casa: 100 Best Design products - Gaia & Gino Kari, Ari, Arim, Rim
• Boutique Design Award Best Use of Lighting: Morimoto
• Boutique Design Award Best Use of Space: Morimoto
• Boutique Design Award Best Restaurant: Morimoto
• Boutique Design Award Best Flow: Four Food Studio
• The French Design Observeur (APCI) 2007: LaCie Skwarim
• Ontario College of Art and Design, Honorary Doctorate, Toronto, Canada
• Pratt Legend Award, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY
• Housewares Design Awards: Umbra Magino Stool
• IDSA Industrial Design Excellence Award Bronze: Gaia & Gino Kari-ari-arim-rim and Kenzo
• Ryoko
• Red Dot Award for product design: LaCie Skwarim

2005

• Time Magazine Best Products of 2005: Gaia & Gino Happy People Glasses and Kari-ari-arim-rim
• Sleep .05 European Hotel Design Award for Best Interior Design Public Spaces: Semiramis
• Hotel
• Red Dot Award: Communication Design for Karim Rashid "Change" at the Pinakothek der Moderne
• Madison Avenue Business Improvement District Award of Excellence for Newspaper Boxes
• Design Times Square Honoree for Design Excellence for Millenium Manhole Cover
• Gaia & Gino Morphscape nominated for DesignPreis 2006
• Design Plus Award: Gaia & Gino Morphscape
• Umbra Garbino inducted into the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art
• International Interior Design Association Star Award (Morimoto)
• GOOD DESIGN Award: Bonaldo Flap and Nambe Hug Salt & Pepper
• Design Times Square Honoree for Design Excellence for Millenium Manhole Cover
• Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Corcoran College of Art & Design
• House Beautiful 6th Annual Giants of Design Award
• IDSA Industrial Design Excellence Award Silver: Method 3X Laundry Detergent Bronze: Echo by
• Davidoff
• New York Section Illuminating Engineering Society Award of Excellence for Semiramis Hotel
• I.D. Magazine Annual Design Review Honorable Mention Furniture: Kurl Shelf by Zeritalia

2004

• A.D. Dunton Alumni Award
• I.D. Magazine s Annual Design Review Best of Category: Copco Barware

2003

• Good Design Award: Kurve Chair, for Neinkamper
• I.D. Magazine Annual Design Review Design Distinction: Issey Miyake, Issey In Your Pocket
• I.D. Magazine Annual Design Review Design Distinction: Method Dish Soap
• National Association of Store Ficture Manufacturers: Retail Store of the Year, Nambe
• Flagship Store

2002

• I.D. Magazine Annual Design Review Design Distinction Packaging: Issey Miyake Summer
• Fragrance
• I.D. Magazine Annual Design Review Design Distinction, Best of Category: 5S Metasense
• Perfume
• I.D. Magazine Annual Design Review Design Distinction, Honorable Mention: Edra
• Surfacescape Edra
• IDSA Industrial Design Excellence Award, Gold: Bozart Chess Set

2001

• IDSA Industrial Design Excellence Award, Furniture Silver: Kapsule Kids Chair (Bozart Toys)
• IDSA Industrial Design Excellence Award, Furniture Gold: Kovacs Soft Lighting
• ID Magazine 47th Annual Review, Furniture Design Distinction:Umbra Q-Chaise
• ID Magazine 47th Annual Review, Packaging Design Distinction: Issey Miyake L Eau D Issey
• Pour Homme
• ID Magazine 47th Annual Review, Concepts Design Distinction: Edra Pleasurescape
• Best of Canda Design Competition, Product Design Winner: Umbra Q-Chaise
• Chicago Athenaeum Museum Good Design Award: New Move and Boom Bowl
• Design Journal Award For Design Excellence, Platinum: Wavelength, Neinkamper
• National Post Design Exchange Awards, Gold: Leonardo Glass Collection
• National Post Design Exchange Awards, Silver: Umbra Table Collection
• National Post Design Exchange Awards Merit: Q-Chaise, Umbra; Wavelength, Neinkamper
• Good Design Award: Wicker Sofa, Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organization,Japan
• The Interior Design Show, Canadian Design Hero of the Year, Toronto, Canada

2000

• Good Design Award for "New Move" Deco-Decanter, Chicago Athenaeum Museum
• Good Design Award for Soft Collection lighting, Chicago Athenaeum: Museum
• Good Design Award for Neinkamper "Wavelength", Chicago Athenaeum: Museum
• Design Journal Platinum Award for Design Excellence for Neinkamper Wavelength

1999

• Daimler Chrysler Design Award, Southfield, MI, USA
• George Nelson Award, selected "One of ten most innovative furniture designers working
• today", Interiors (May)
• Oh Chair. Best Product: Decorative Accessories for Home Décor, CTGA. Toronto, Canada
• Good Design Award for Oh Chair, Chicago Athenaeum Museum
• Good Design Award for Umbra Bowls, Chicago Athenaeum Museum
• Design Journal Gold Award for the Oh Chair

1998

• Young Designer of the Year, Brooklyn Museum of Art, USA
• Brooklyn Museum of Art, USA 11 Products and Furniture into Permanent Collection
• ID Magazine 44th Annual Review, Design Distinction Product: Issey Miyake Perfecto, Torso,
• Bust & Spine
• ID Magazine 44th Annual Review, Design Distinction Packaging: Issey Miyake Holiday Bags
• ID Magazine 44th Annual Review, Design Distinction Furniture: Idee Apex Seating
• Virtu 11 National Design Award: Garbo Can for Umbra, Canada
• Virtu 11 National Design Award: Arp Stools for Pure Design, Canada
• GOOD Design Award/Permanent Collection for Issey Miyake Bags and Nambé Wave, Shimmer, Moon

Frames

• Montreal Museum of Decorative Arts Permanent Collection for 11 products and furniture
• SFMOMA Permanent Collection for Garbo Can for Umbra, Canada
• Young Designer of the Year, Brooklyn Museum of Art, USA
• Material Connexion permanent Collection: Zeritalia Tri-Spectra and Aura Tables
• Material Connexion permanent Collection: Miyake Holiday Bags and Handbags

1998

• Material Connexion permanent Collection: Umbra Garbo and Stash Cans

1997

• SFMOMA Permanent Collection for Nambé Kissing Salt& Pepper and Jimmy and Rainbow Servers
• ID Magazine 43rd Annual Review, Honorable Mention in Furniture Design, Lounging Chaise for
• Idée, Japan.

1996

• Virtu 10 National Design Competition, Award for Kissing Salt& Pepper and Spin Bowl
• ID Forty, Selected as one of 40 Leading Edge Designers (Jan 1996)

1995

• GOOD Design Award for 32 Nambé Studio objects and Abaxial Clocks
• Absolute Barware Competition, Third place (ID Magazine Dec 1995)
• Virtu 9 National Design Competition, Award for Arp Chair.

1994

• Virtu 8 National Design Competition, Award for Triaxial Couch, Dulcinea Lamp, and Geist
• Peppermill
• ID Magazine 40th Annual Review, Honorable Mention for Furniture Design, Dulcinea Lamp

1993

• ID Magazine, Best of Year in Product Design, Abaxial Clocks
• Virtu 7 National Design Competition, Award for Aura Coffee Table and Clock designs

1992

• Ontario Arts Council grant for prototyping the design of Triaxial Couch/Daybed
• Table Lamp + Chair Competition, Portland, OR, Award for Aura Table

1991

• Received Canada Design Council Grant in Architecture for executing and exhibiting 10
• furnishings

1990

• International Design Magazine, Best in Year International Designs in Lighting and Furniture
• Design

1989

• Interiors Magazine and Steelcase Design Division, selected for 30 UNDER 30 Designers and
• Architects (Sept 89)
• Virtu 5 National Design Competition, Award for Vanity design, Violet

1988

• Virtu 4 National Design Competition, Award for Chair design, Pilgrim

1986

• Virtu 2 National Design Competition, Award for Lamp design, Nike

1985

• Virtu 1 National Design Competition, Award for Couch design, Spider
• Progressive Architecture International Competition, Honorable Mention for Spider Couch

[ Source: Wikipedia ]