Past, Present Future: Sir Terence Conran

“My philosophy is best summed up by the phrase ‘plain, simple, and useful.’ Such things may not win many design prizes, but neither do they go out of fashion.”

In 1981 Sir Terence Conran established an exhibition space called the Boiler-house at the V&A, it was intended to showcase the intersection of form and function in industrial design. The Boiler-house was a great success and evolved into the birth of the design museum in 1989. His goal was to create a space entirely devoted to design that was accessible to all, a space for designers to visit from all across the world and be inspired by products and designers from all different countries and cultures. The original Design Museum opened in a former banana ripening warehouse on Shad Thames. Remaining there until June 2016 when the new Design Museum by John Pawson opened in Kensington.

Terence Conran had a major influence in the design industry and the everyday life of many British people. His advanced thinking made his own products and house-ware items from across the world easily and economically accessible across the UK. He rescued a number of old abandoned buildings, transforming them into retail or restaurant spaces. Founded a number of well-known retail brands and architecture practices. And of course, founded the Design Museum, which he has said to be the single most rewarding achievement in design career. All of his hard work and devotion to the British design industry led him to receive a well-deserved knighthood in 1983. As a studio we view him as a forefront leader in design and is a true inspiration to the AW team.