Five things you need to know about Philippe Starck

1. His best features

Like any self-respecting selfie taker, Philippe Starck knows his best angles. He refuses to be photographed seated and side profiles are an absolute no-no.

2. He doesn't care about what millennials want – even though M Social, which Starck designed, is billed as a hotel for millennials

"I care about what people need. Mainly, they need life. Often, there is good architecture and beautiful things, but it's incredibly boring. We're in a society where people are more separated than together. We have to make architecture that brings people together – to exchange ideas, to work, to love and to fight."

3. Maintaining relevance in a competitive industry

"I'm never out of trend because I'm never in trend. I try always to not create trends with my work. I don't want to be pretentious, but when we go to the Milan Furniture Fair every year, my work is always the most innovative concept. I still have that revolutionary spirit."

4. What he thinks of property and hotel magnate Kwek Leng Beng, chairman of Millennium & Copthorne Hotels, which owns M Social

"Nobody can resist Mr Kwek. He's so smart, quickly understands my style, so fun and full of energy. It was love at first sight – good to make a love shack (what Starck likes to refer M Social to)."

5. He's not slowing down anytime soon

"When you are young, you want to survive and show yourself. But me? My ego is quiet and I can concentrate on making good things for my friends. Creativity is a drug addiction and a mental sickness. You can't retire from that."

Adapted from The Straits Times.