" People project meaning
onto objects. If an object allows you to interact with it, then it becomes
part of your being, and over time you see things in it that first you
might not have seen," Karim has said. Rashid's vast body of work
embraces the concept of "sensual minimalism" or "sensualism."
Using these terms to describe his style, he uniquely approaches design
through concentrating on the subject matter of an object rather than its
form. Through this process, his work evolves into minimal abstraction
of the object itself. In Rashid's own words, his work is fluid, soft,
organic and human, and therefore, sensual.
Born in Cairo, Egypt, Karim is now a Professor in Industrial Design at
the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. His designs have been ubiquitous,
from the Garbo trash can to the Oh Chair. Of design, Karim said, "I
want industrial design to be a public subject. I want people to love objects
the way they love clothing."