Karim Rashid, BID/82

Recognized as an international leader in the field of industrial design, Cairo-born Rashid has consistently reshaped the world around him. His signature futuristic style is based on the belief that “each new product should replace three.”

Before completing graduate studies in Naples and Milan, Rashid graduated from Carleton in 1982 and regards his education at Carleton as integral to his career success. “I took courses [at Carleton] in philosophy, journalism, engineering, marketing, language and architecture — very useful, because to design is to understand global issues. I consider my time there to be a very important part of my career.”

His efforts have earned him countless awards, including the Collab Award (presented by the Philadelphia Museum of Art), the Silver IDEA (Industrial Design Excellence Award) from the Institute of Design in Illinois, and the 2004 A.D. Dunton Alumni Award of Distinction from the Carleton University Alumni Association.

In March 2012, Rashid unveiled the “Ottawa collection” for the Danish manufacturer BoConcept.