Philippe Starck spoke with FRAME about his recent work for Andreu World, explaining why balancing craft with tech fulfils our need to create with that for more responsible practice.

The Olena chair – one of Philippe Starck’s newest creations for Spanish brand Andreu World – embodies a new age of design. Starck refers to Olena – which is constructed using three pieces of plywood and three wood clavets – as the ‘eco-tech vision’ of a Middle Ages chair. To him, eco-tech design means returning to the lessons of nature, and of ancient human craft, while embracing the endless possibility of technology.

This all boils down to achieving true sustainability. It's a key area of exploration in the designer and Andreu World’s collaboration. To create is human, Starck thinks, but we must discover how to do so in a way that reduces environmental impact. ‘That’s why the subject is to use the minimum of everything and to design for longevity, for transmission – for heritage,’ Stack says. ‘Modernity is longevity.’ Olena is joined this season with the Luba armchair and Alla and Tamara tables, which echo this minimalistic approach and further the conversation on how to design for the circular economy.

Starck credits his former hesitation to work with wood to his love for nature. But utilizing plywood – and AI – he realized he could reduce his material consumption to a minimum. When asked if this technology will be what kills off craft, a common concern about its use in design, he responded: ‘The work of AI is like craft. It’s not a hammer, but it’s a tool. It’s not the enemy that arrives just like that and destroys everything. We need AI.’

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