Andre Ricard

Andre Ricard is a Spanish industrial designer, born in Barcelona in 1929. He studied at the Academy of Warnia Zaraszescka, where he was taught in the famous Bauhaus tradition. His work aims to improve the functionality of everyday life and he is renowned for using natural materials that require special treatment through artisanal techniques. His design career began in 1963 when his collaboration with Puig Fragrances started, Ricard designed the packaging for their perfumes - this led to his recognition in the world of design.

In 1992 Andre Ricard was approached to design the torch for the Barcelona Olympic games, one of his greatest achievements, he then went on to design the Olympic Museum's cauldron (1993) in Lausanne, Switzerland and the Hockey World Cup (2001). Ricard uses craftsmanship to maintain traditions and his work is classed as iconic Spanish design. Behind each design lies a deep and thoughtful process concerning functionality and practicality.

"To design is to afford the objects of our daily life the simplest and most sensible forms so that they can best fulfil the function for which they are intended." - Andre Ricard