It was like a scene from the horrific infomercials for Miracle Foot Repair as world-famous designer Philippe Starck lowered himself to delivering a spiel for an alarm clock-cum-barometer he has designed. After giving his audience of top business figures at the Peninsula last Thursday an anecdote about having four different alarm clocks - all conveniently branded Oregon Scientific - in his many different places of abode, Starck went for the hard sell: explaining the real reason he decided to collaborate with the hi-tech firm on this state-of-the-art and sleekly designed timepiece.
The French designer-cum-salesman also gave a lot of face time to the press, but made sure his face was hidden by an object at all times. And when asked what he thought of the Felix restaurant and bar upstairs, which he designed nine years ago, he said: 'I think it's good, doing well. I think people like it still.'
He added that he would change 'not a thing' about the bar for which he is well-known in Hong Kong.
'After I design something I leave it - it becomes a classic. Well, maybe perhaps the back faces on the chairs. But nothing else.'
He informs CitySeen that he will be back in Hong Kong for the delayed opening of the Jia serviced apartments in Causeway Bay (for which he designed the interiors) perhaps by the end of the year, or early next year.