hell is getting colder...

well, i never thought i'd say this, but i think i'm starting to like karim rashid.

i can't believe i wrote that

on wednesday i watched the premier of the new usa network show "made in the usa" and found myself falling for the big, crazy, over-the-top man that he is. now, let me clarify that i still don't like his blobby graphic furniture and packaging designs but, that said, the man is hysterical. he's the simon cowell of the product design world- and i love it. it's taken a few days to sink in, but i think this might be my new favorite show, until project runway starts again.

basically, the show follows 6 teams of hopeful product designers that will compete, be judged by three "celebrity" judges (karim himself, joy mangano from the home shopping network and the founder of chuck e. cheese) in hopes of winning a one-year tv shopping network hsn sales contract. everyone knows that hsn can make you millions (hello, blowout?), so i guess it's a good prize. i'd still prefer some sort of fancy vacation or cash prize in addition to the hsn contract, but i guess if you've sold your house and car to fund your dream of designing a non-chemical, temporary hair highlighting system (he's in there), this prize is for you.

but enough of that stuff, on to the good karim talkin...let me say, after he told someone, "i didn't study design for 20 years to sit here and judge that" i knew he wasn't half bad. his snarky comments (although i see it as necessary honesty, i mean some people need to be told not to sell their souls in hopes of making it big with a beach towel that has a pocket for hair accessories) combined with comments that inevitably come back to color and style are fantastic. i love that he always says things like, "i love your use of color...this needs more color...think more about the color and design". i love it. he's so design driven i can't help but love him. still, love him, not his designs.

so, as much as i can't believe i just blogged about liking karim rashid, i highly suggest the show. it's a really great look into the difficult, crazy, exciting, creative, draining and ultimately passionate world of product design. plus, i think the guys with the quad zipper are going to be HUGE. (great design AND good looks? come on...). [made in america airs on the usa network wednesdays at 10 pm est. enjoy and lemme know what you think of the show!