Amid the swirl of this year Milan fair were a couple of products that clamoured for attention in a particular way. One was a lamp with a gold-plated Kalashnikov as its stand, designed by Philippe Starck for Italian lighting company, Flos.

 

Mike Curtis, Managing Director of Start Creative, comments 'the controversial nature of Starck's latest work reinforces how the design industry can provoke and stimulate the consciousness'. He adds, 'Designers are well placed to challenge conventions, especially at a time in the economic cycle when clients tend to be more conservative and much work is commercially focussed and, by definition, safer.'