Terence Conran facts for kids

Sir Terence Orby Conran (October 4, 1931 – September 12, 2020) was a famous English designer, restaurant owner, shop owner, and writer. He was known for making modern design popular and easy to find for many people.

Sir Terence founded the Design Museum in London in 1989. This museum helps people learn about design. The British designer Thomas Heatherwick said that Conran "moved Britain forward to make it an influence around the world." Edward Barber, another British designer, said Conran was "the most passionate man in Britain when it comes to design." He believed that "Design is there to improve your life."

Early Life and Education

Terence Conran was born in Kingston upon Thames, England. His father, Gerard Rupert Conran, owned a company that imported rubber.

Terence went to Bryanston School in Dorset. Later, he studied at the Central School of Art and Design. There, he learned about textiles and other materials. This school is now part of the University of the Arts, London.

His Work in Design and Retail

Terence Conran's first big job was at the Festival of Britain in 1951. He worked on a special project there. After college, he joined an architectural company.

In 1956, Conran started his own design business. He created furniture and designed a shop for the fashion designer Mary Quant.

Habitat Shops

In 1964, Terence Conran opened the first Habitat shop in Chelsea, London. He started it with his third wife, Caroline Herbert. Habitat sold modern housewares and furniture. It was one of the first shops to bring cool, new designs to many people. Habitat grew into a very large chain of stores.

In the 1980s, Habitat became part of a bigger group of companies called Storehouse plc. This group included other well-known shops like Mothercare. However, in 1990, Conran no longer controlled the company.

The Conran Shop in Fukuoka, Japan.

Later, he started other shops, like The Conran Shop. He also co-founded Benchmark Furniture in 1983. This company makes furniture from wood that is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). This means the wood comes from forests that are managed responsibly.

Architecture and Interior Design

Terence Conran also worked in architecture and interior design. In 1980, he started a company called Conran Roche. They worked on many projects, including turning Michelin House into the famous Bibendum restaurant.

Conran played a big part in making the Shad Thames area of London better in the 1990s. This area is near Tower Bridge and includes the Design Museum. His company, Conran and Partners, designs products, brands, and interiors all over the world. Conran also designed furniture for big stores like Marks & Spencer.

His design work reached North America and Asia. The Conran Shop opened in Japan and South Korea.

Restaurants

Besides his design work, Conran was famous for his restaurants. He opened many restaurants in London and other places. One of his most famous restaurants was Bibendum.

In 2005, he was named the most important restaurant owner in the UK. In 2007, he sold part of his restaurant business, which became known as D&D London.

Later, he opened new restaurants like Boundary in Shoreditch and Lutyens in Fleet Street.

Books

Terence Conran wrote over 50 books. These books shared his ideas about design. Most of his books were published by Conran Octopus. This company was started by Conran himself.

Awards and Recognitions

Terence Conran received many awards for his work.

• In 1983, he was made a Knight Bachelor, which means he was called "Sir."
• In 2017, he became a Companion of Honour (CH) for his great contributions to design.
• He won the Minerva Medal from the Chartered Society of Designers.
• From 2003 to 2011, he was the head of the Royal College of Art.
• In 2003, he received the Prince Philip Designers Prize for his lifetime achievements in design.
• In 2010, he was named a Royal Designer for Industry.
• He won a Lifetime Achievement Award at The Catey Awards in 2017.
• In 2019, he received another Lifetime Achievement Award from The Furniture Makers’ Company.

Academic Honours

• In 2007, he received an honorary degree from London South Bank University.
• In 2012, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Pretoria.
• Also in 2012, he became an honorary professor at the University for the Creative Arts.

Personal Life

Terence Conran was married four times.

• His first marriage was to Brenda Davison in 1952. It lasted six months.
• He married journalist Shirley Pearce in 1955. They had two sons, Sebastian and Jasper. They divorced in 1962.
• In 1963, he married cookery writer Caroline Herbert. They had three children: Tom, Sophie, and Edmund. This marriage lasted 33 years.
• He married his fourth wife, Victoria Davis, in 2000.

Death

Sir Terence Conran passed away on September 12, 2020, at the age of 88.

Biographies

• Terence Conran. by Nicholas Ind. Sidgwick & Jackson, 1996. ISBN: 0-283-06294-0.
• Terence Conran: Design and the Quality of Life by Elizabeth Wilhide. Watson-Guptill, 1999.
• 'Conran and the Habitat story' by Barty Phillips. ISBN: 9780297784302

See also

• List of alumni of the Central School of Art and Design
• List of English writers
• List of restaurateurs