Bibi Seck

Bibi Seck is co-founder of the leading and award-winning innovation design studio Birsel+Seck, based in New York, and also the founder of Dakar Next, a design studio-laboratory in Dakar, Senegal. Bibi was born and brought up in Paris and then moved on to spending his formative years in London, Paris, and Dakar, growing as a person and designer.

He received his Master’s degree in industrial design back in the year 1990 from ESDI, Paris, and was a lead designer at Renault for 12 years, with his extensive experience in materials and manufacturing. 

Leading the interior design teams for many production vehicles, including the Scénic I, Twingo II, Trafic, and Scénic II. The Scénic I (1996) and Trafic (2002) won Car of the Year awards from the European trade press. While at Renault, Bibi also designed the F1 Micrograph watch for TAG Heuer, which won the prestigious 2002 Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.

Bibi, with his many years of expertise in manufacturing and systems thinking, brought it into a multitude of products for renowned companies such as Herman Miller, Hewlett Packard, Moroso, and IKEA. Madame Dakar, which was designed for Moroso with Ayse Birsel, was named one of “The 25 Most Defining Pieces of Furniture From the Last 100 Years” by The New York Times.

He is deeply connected and committed to promoting and encouraging design, especially in Africa, and has curated the exhibit Design 4 People at the 2012 Design Biennial in Dakar and co-founded AfroEats, the first international African food festival. 

Even his TEDxEuston talk, Made and Designed in Africa, For Africans, deeply reflects his design style and belief as a cultural and economic force in many developing countries. Also, in the year 2023, the Chanel 19M exhibit and furniture in Dakar was named Guest of Honor at Chanel Le 19M’s Design Parade Toulon.

Bibi Seck has also taught at many institutions such as Strate Collège, Université Technologique de Compiègne, and Pratt Institute.