Marc Newson

Biography

Marc Newson has been described as one of the most influential designers of his generation. He has worked across an extremely wide range of disciplines, and his clients include some of the best-known and most prestigious brands in the world spanning diverse sectors from furniture, luxury goods, and technology, to marine, automotive, and aviation design.

Born in Sydney, Australia in 1963, Newson has lived and worked in Sydney, Tokyo, Paris, and presently resides in the UK where his company, Marc Newson Limited, has been based since 1997. His clients include companies such as Louis Vuitton, Montblanc, Hermès, Nike, Dom Pérignon, Jaeger-LeCoultre and Ferrari to name a few. As well as overseeing his own company, he has held senior positions at clients’ companies, having been Creative Director of Qantas Airways from 2005-2015, and Designer for Special Projects at Apple since his first involvement in the design of the ‘Apple Watch’.  In 2019, Marc and Sir Jonathan Ive founded the creative collective LoveFrom.

Marc Newson studied Fine Art at The University of Sydney and with the aid of an Australian Crafts Council grant, he staged his first solo exhibition in 1986 at the age of 23. He began his career hand making furniture and timepieces in a workshop in Sydney, early designs included the Super Guppy Lamp, Pod of Drawers and Embryo Chair, the latter of which has been in production since its inception. By the age of 25, Newson had created the Lockheed Lounge, a riveted aluminium chaise longue that has arguably become one of the most iconic contemporary design works. Some 30 years later, it has set four world record prices at auction for work created by a living designer. His design pieces are highly sought after on the secondary market, accounting for a sizeable portion of auction sales in the contemporary design category for Sotheby’s, Christie’s and Phillips.

Newson is the only industrial designer represented by Gagosian, and he is also represented by Galerie kreo, where Didier Krzentowski is compiling his catalogue raisonné. Leading museums around the world have hosted solo retrospective exhibitions of his work.

Additionally, his work is presented in the permanent collections of many major museums including: The Museum of Modern Art and Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum (New York), San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Design Museum and V&A Museum (London), Musée National d’Art Moderne, Centre Pompidou and Musée des Arts Décoratifs (Paris), Vitra Design Museum (Weil am Rhein), Museum Angewandte Kunst (Frankfurt), Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg, Museu do Design e da Moda (Lisbon), Israel Museum (Jerusalem), Powerhouse Museum (Sydney), and the National Gallery of Victoria (Melbourne). He has also chaired the London Design Museum’s International Design Council.

As a long-term supporter of the charity (RED), Newson together with Ive curated a design auction in 2013 which raised a staggering $46 million (USD) for The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Since then, he has worked with clients to turn several of his designs ‘red’ in support of the charity.

Newson has been included in TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People and has received numerous industry awards and distinctions. He holds Honorary Doctorates from the Royal College of Art and The University of Sydney, has held Adjunct Professorships at The University of Sydney and Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and has been appointed RDI (Royal Designer for Industry) by the Royal Society of Arts.  In 2012, he was awarded CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Newson’s work has been featured widely in books and publications around the world, including three monographs to date most notably the encyclopaedic ‘Marc Newson Works’ published by Taschen (2012). He has been the subject of various radio and television programmes including an interview on PBS on Charlie Rose, BBC’s Imagine ‘Marc Newson Urban Spaceman’, Objects of Desire on Sky Arts, and ‘Objectified’, a documentary film by Gary Hustwit. In 2013, Newson spoke at TEDxSydney, and each year since 2011 he has joined the judging committee at Cartier Style et Luxe, Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Design Awards

2020-

2023

Top Awards Asia, Japan
Packaging Design 
Shiraiwa, IWA 5 Sake 

Muse Award, USA
Transportation Design - Watercraft 
Fliteboard, MN Series eFoil 

Good Design Award, Australia 
Australian Design Prize   

Fast Company Innovation by Design Award, USA 
Best Design North America 
Knoll, Newson Task 

2022

The Chicago Athenaeum Good Design Award, USA
Bath and Accessories  
Drummonds, Coln Bathtub 

The Chicago Athenaeum Good Design Award, USA
Sports and Recreation 
Swarovski Optik, CL Curio 7X21 

Grands prix du Design, Canada 
Product Design in Small Series & Hand Made: Lighting Fixture 
Meljac, Solaris Swicth Plates 

Interior Design Magazine, USA 
Best of Year Winners 
Knoll, Newson Task 

LivingEtc Style Awards, UK
Best Bathroom Collection 
Drummonds, Marc Newson Collection  

NYCxDesign Awards, USA 
Sinks and Tubs  
Drummonds, Coln Collection 

2021
 
International Design Award, USA 
Home Interior Product-Switches, Temperature Control Systems 
Meljac, Solaris Switch Plates 

Good Design Award, Australia 
Product, Sport and Lifestyle 
R.M. Williams, Yard Boot 365

Red Dot Design Award, Germany
Product Design
Meljac, Solaris Switch Plates

2020
 
Red Dot Design Award, Germany
Product Design
Louis Vuitton, Horizon Soft Luggage
 
Muuus International Awards, France
Meljac, Solaris Switch Plates

Muse Award, USA
Footwear
R.M. Williams, Yard Boot 365

2010-2019

2019
 
Design Guild Mark, UK
Excellence in Design in the British Furnishing Industry
Knoll, Newson Aluminium Chair
 
2018
 
Metropolis Likes x NYC Design Award, USA
Knoll, Newson Aluminium Chair
 
HiP Design Award
Workplace: Guest Seating
Knoll, Newson Aluminium Chair
 
2017
 
Salon del Mobile Milan, Italy
The Design Prize, Lifetime Achievement Award
 
2016
 
Red Dot Design Award, Germany
Product Design
Montblanc, Montblanc M
 
The DFNI Americas Awards for Travel-Retail Excellence
Best New Product Launch
Hennessy, James Hennessy Decanter
 
2015
 
GQ Man of the Year, UK
Creative Icon
 
2014
 
Good Design Award, Australia
Good Design of the Year
Caroma, Marc Newson Collection
 
Good Design Award, Australia
Architecture and Interiors, Good Design Selection
Stormtech, Slimline Linear Drain 64MND
 
Design Hall of Fame, Design Institute Australia,
Services to Design in Australia
 
German Design Award, Germany
Special Mention
Caroma, Marc Newson Collection
 
Wallpaper* Design Award, UK
Domeau & Pérès, Bumper Bed
 
Red Dot Design Award, Germany
Best of the Best
Palm Products, Unbreakable Drinkware
 
2013
 
Philadelphia Museum of Art, USA
Collab Design Excellence Award
 
China Home Trends Award, China
Magis, Bunky
 
International Contemporary Furniture Fair, USA
ICFF Editors Award, Kitchen and Bathroom for Best Design
Stormtech, MND Series
 
 
2012
 
German Design Award, Germany
Gold Prize
Pentax, K-01
 
Red Dot Design Award, Germany
Product Design
Pentax, K-01
 
2011
 
Lucky Strike Design Award, Germany
Lifetime Achievement
 
2010
 
The Chicago Athenaeum Good Design Award, USA
Smeg, Kitchen Appliances
 
The Design Awards, UK
The Lifetime Achievement Award

2000-2009

2009        
 
The Chicago Athenaeum Good Design Award, USA
Qantas, A380 First Class Suite 
 
Australian Design Award, Australia
Australia Standards, Overall Winner
Qantas, A380
 
Australian Design Award, Australia
Australia Standards
Qantas, A380 Economy Seat
 
Condé Nast Traveller Innovation and Design Award, USA
Aviation
Qantas, A380
 
Wallpaper* Design Award, UK
Smeg, Kitchen Appliances
 
2008
 
GQ Man of the Year, Germany
Design
 
London Design Festival, UK
London Design Medal
 
Skytrax World Airline Award, UK
Best First Class Lounge
Qantas, First Class Lounge, Sydney
 
Australian International Design Award, Australia
Furniture, Lighting, Public Space
Qantas, First Class Lounge, Sydney
 
2007          
 
The LEAF Award, UK
International Interior Design
Qantas, First Class Lounge, Sydney
 
Travel & Leisure Magazine, Australia
Australian Travel Innovator Award
 
2006
 
Design Miami/ Basel, USA
Designer of the Year Award
 
The Chicago Athenaeum Good Design Award, USA
Samsonite, Scope Luggage
 
Red Dot Design Award, Germany
Best of the Best
Samsonite, Scope Luggage
 
2005
 
The Chicago Athenaeum Good Design Award, USA
KDDI, Talby Mobile Phone
 
The Chicago Athenaeum Good Design Award, USA
Nike, Zvezdochka
 
SIFA Awards, Germany
G-Star, G-Star Raw by Marc Newson
 
Design and Decoration Awards, UK
Best Bathroom Product
Ideal Standard, Marc Newson Collection
 
Product Innovation Award, UK
Ideal Standard, Marc Newson Taps
 
Classic Design Awards, UK
Ideal Standard, Marc Newson Basin Mixer
 
Time Out Awards, USA
NY Readers’ Choice, Best New Restaurant Design
Lever House, The Lever House Restaurant
 
L’Observateur du Design Award, France
Tefal, Kitchenware
 
2004           
 
Good Design Award, Japan
KDDI, Talby Mobile Phone
 
ADI Compasso d’Oro Award, Italy
Honourable Mention
Alessi, Strelka Cutlery
 
2003
 
Australian Design Award, Australia
Qantas, Skybed
 
The Chicago Athenaeum Good Design Award, USA
Qantas, Skybed
 
The Chicago Athenaeum Good Design Award, USA
Ideal Standard, Marc Newson Collection
 
Elle Decoration Design Award, UK
Ideal Standard, Marc Newson Bath
 
2001
 
The Chicago Athenaeum Good Design Award, USA
Erreti, DH1 Door Handle
 
Selfridges Design Award, UK
Shortlisted
 
2000
 
ADI Compasso D’Oro Award, Italy
Alessi, Sygma Hook
 
Design Innovation Award, Germany
Ikepod, Hemipode Watch ‘Grand Date’ HD03
 
Red Dot Design Award, Germany
Ikepod, Hemipode Watch ‘Grand Date’ HD03

1990-1999

1999
 
Tokyo Motor Show, Japan
Concept Car Design Award
Ford, 021C
 
Sydney Design Convention, Australia
Issue of Australian Stamp
 
Red Dot Design Award, Germany
Product Design
Embryo Chair
 
The George Nelson Design Award, USA
 
1998
 
I.D Magazine, UK
Top 50 Designers Award
 
1993
 
Salon du Meuble Paris, France
Designer of the Year

1980-1989

1984
 
Australian Crafts Council, Australia
Crafts Council Award  

Solo exhibitions

2023

Marc Newson 
Gagosian Gallery, Paris, France

2022

Marc Newson 
Gagosian Gallery, Athens, Greece 

Shop Takeover 
Gagosian Bookshop, London, UK 

2021

Quobus 
Galerie kreo, London, UK 

Quobus 
Galerie kreo, Paris, France

2020

Marc Newson
Gagosian Gallery, Gstaad, Switzerland  

2019

Marc Newson
Gagosian Gallery, Hong Kong
 
Marc Newson
Gagosian Gallery, New York, USA

2013–14

Marc Newson: At Home
Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, USA

2010

Marc Newson
Gagosian Gallery, New York, USA

2008

Marc Newson
Gagosian Gallery, London, UK

2007

Marc Newson
Gagosian Gallery, New York, USA

2004–05

Marc Newson
Design Museum, London, UK

2004

Marc Newson
Groninger Museum, Groningen, Netherlands
 
Kelvin40
Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, Paris, France
             
Marc Newson
Galerie kréo, Paris, France

2003

Marc Newson
Galerie kréo, Paris, France

2001

Marc Newson: Design Works
Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, Australia

2000

Marc Newson
Galerie kréo, Paris, France

1999

Marc Newson
McLellan Galleries, Glasgow, UK

1997

Marc Newson
Villa de Noailles, Hyères, France

1995

Bucky: de la chimie au design
Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, Paris, France

1994

Wormhole
Internos Bis, Milan, Italy

1993

Raum & Form
Galerie Artificial, Nuremberg, Germany
             
Marc Newson
Galleria Massimo De Carlo, Milan, Italy

1991

Marc Newson
VIA, Paris, France
 
Marc Newson
C&Bi Interior, Stockholm, Sweden

1990

Fresh produce by Marc Newson
Gold & Idée, Tokyo, Japan
 
Marc Newson for Idée
The Ikon Corporation, London, UK

1989

Marc Newson
Il Milione, Milan, Italy

1988

Works of Marc Newson
Idée, Tokyo, Japan

1986

Seating for Six
Roslyn Oxley9, Sydney, Australia

 
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Selected Talks and Podcasts

2024

'Marc Newson- SR-71 Blackbird', SpyScape: A History of the World in Spy Objects 
Available here

2022

'Marc Newson', The Ultimate Road Trip Podcast
Available here

2021

‘Marc Newson: Design Works’, Sydney Design Week, The Powerhouse Museum
Available here

2020

‘Art of Influence: Marc Newson’, Sydney College of the Arts
Available here

2019

‘Marc Newson’, HODINKEE Radio
Available here

2013

‘Designer of Scale’, TEDxSydney
Available here