Olivier Mourgue: key obituary facts
Is Olivier Mourgue dead? Yes. Olivier Mourgue died on October 5, 2026, at age 87.
Cause of death: Olivier Mourgue's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Olivier Mourgue known for?
He was a French industrial designer (born 1939).
More about Olivier Mourgue
Olivier Mourgue, a French industrial designer, died October 5, 2026, aged 87.
Born in Paris in 1939, he studied at the École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs. His work spanned design, engineering and art, with furniture design among its best-known aspects.
Mourgue is best known for the futuristic Djinn chairs, which appeared prominently in the 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey. The bright red chairs became a distinctive feature of the film’s interiors and remain sought-after examples of 1960s furniture design. His designs were produced principally by Airborne International, a manufacturer that is no longer in business, while some designs continue to be made by other companies. Mourgue also worked on exhibition spaces, serving as interior designer for the French pavilions at Expo 67 in Montreal and Expo 70 in Osaka. He received the René Gabriel Prize. Alongside his furniture work, he was identified as an engineer and artist, and his career included both product design and interior design for international expositions. He died in Plouguiel.