Jean Paul Gaultier has become the new creative director of Diet Coke.

The iconic designer will take over from Karl Lagerfeld at the world famous soft drinks company and will work on a range of projects over the next 12 months.

In homage to his curvaceous perfume bottles, his Diet Coke model will be in the shape of a woman, saying: ''It was great fun to dress them. The Diet Coke motif is so beautiful I had to design around this. The finishing touch was to apply my logo to the bottle, like applying a fragile stamp - making it something special you want to touch.''

Gaultier will be involved in the soft drink's website content, retail concepts and the advertising campaigns.

As well as Lagerfeld, Gaultier also follows in the footsteps of Matthew Williamson, Gianfranco Ferrè, Marni and Roberto Cavalli, who have all designed bottles before him.

As well as working with Diet Coke, last year it was also revealed Gaultier revealed plans to develop a ''provocative'' lingerie collection with Italian brand La Perla.

He said the collaboration ''was bound to happen'', adding: ''Lingerie is part of my DNA: I have always used it in my collections. With La Perla, I have found a perfect partner.''