Home experiment: Form/ Function / Cost.....

Bill Reporting; Philippe Starck has a beautiful object, that is a fact. However one has to look at both sides of the argument. The function of both lemon squeezers are extremely credible. The cost is very different. The 'Coles' variety lemon squeezer that I purchased for 0.98 cents is a bargain. But then the exorbidant price of a Starck designed lemon squeezer is $134.90. A large portion of that money goes to Alessi. The look is great and suprisingly the performance is much better than the cheaper version. I honestly thought it would not live up to the 'high profile' expectations that the design community has placed upon this design. The normal squeezer reqiures two hands as shown in photo. The Starck squeezer can be operated with only one hand, quite easily. To be honest I have used it three or four times in my life and I mainly look at the Starck design as an icon and not an object of everyday use. My squeezer was bought as an

18th b'day gift and I have really cherished it ever since that time.

can see how Starck and other designers can glorify such objects as normal lemon squeezers. I think Starck's design deserves its big price tag due to its material quality is, performance, Alessi marketing and iconical design. Which I suppose is four pretty good reasons. One has toreally associate with the object to want tospend that much dosh, when you can buy something that will do the trick for 0.98 cents. The Alessi squeezer delivers form and function but that is what one would expect. I can say that it definately holds a prescence in most surroundings, but seems to change as a form whem dramatically backlit or placed within an alienating backdrop to make it appear to have characteristics similar to an insect form. Very eerie...

regards Bill