Most likely influenced by his father, who worked as an aircraft engineer, Starck studied at the École Nissim de Camondo, Paris, and in 1968 set up his first company, which produced inflatable objects. Always interested in design as a total concept, in the 1970s he made a reputation for himself by creating interiors for clients such as the Paris nightclubs La Main Bleue in 1976, and Les Bains-Douches in 1978.

Starck first gained international attention when he was commissioned to refurbish the private apartments in the Élysée Palace (1983–84) in Paris for French Pres. François Mitterrand. He went on to design restaurant interiors for the Café Costes (1984) in Paris, Manin (1985) in Tokyo, Theatron (1985) in Mexico City, and Teatriz (1990) in Madrid, among others. Starck was responsible for the interior design of the Royalton and Paramount hotels (1988 and 1990) in New York City, work that subsequently inspired hotels throughout the world to seek his services. Over the course of these varied commissions, he did not develop one distinct aesthetic or a preference for certain materials. Rather, he addressed the needs of an individual client, whether it was the somewhat conservative character of state apartments or the more flamboyant tone needed for a trendy nightclub. Some constants did develop in Starck’s work, however, such as a preference for fluid organic forms and the inclusion of subtle playful details. For example, in the Delano Hotel (1995) in the South Beach area of Miami Beach, Florida, each room had a metal apple holder affixed to the wall, and the phrase “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” was printed on the holder, promising a daily replenishment of apples.

Parallel to his career as an interior designer, Starck developed an international reputation on the basis of his wide range of industrial designs. Often displaying the same organic, fluid lines of his interiors, the varied products he designed on commission included boats for Bénéteau, mineral water bottles for Glacier, kitchen appliances—notably the Juicy Salif juicer—for Alessi, toothbrushes for Fluocaril, luggage for Samsonite, “Urban Fittings” for Decaux, office furniture for Vitra, televisions for Thomson Multimedia, watches for Fossil, eyeglasses for Alain Mikli, and the Optical Mouse for Microsoft. Starck’s populist vision for design was best achieved in such products, which were often sold at affordable price points and through mass-market venues. Rejecting design simply for the sake of beauty or as a symbol of wealth, Starck hoped that his work would improve people’s lives by adding an element of humour and surprise to everyday acts such as brushing teeth or cooking. The designer himself was often featured in ads for his products, since his flamboyant lighthearted personality embodied the message of his work.