Juicy Salif

A citrus juicer designed by Philippe Starck for the Italian brand Alessi. Its sculptural form resembles a fantastical creature, even though it is intended for one of the most mundane tasks—squeezing lemon juice.

Juicy Salif is a clear example of how object recognizability emerges from a small number of formative elements: the ribbed cap, three legs, and smooth transitions.

Juicy Salif was designed by Philippe Starck in 1988 for Alessi. According to its creation story, the idea arose during a trip to Italy, when Philippe sketched a form inspired by the silhouette of an octopus on paper.

Juicy Salif did not so much improve the juice-squeezing process as it changed the perception of an ordinary household item, transforming it into an independent object of visual culture.