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 manufacturing and technology to transportation, fashion, and luxury goods.
Born in Sydney, Australia in 1963, Newson has lived and worked in Sydney, Tokyo, Paris, and presently resides in London where his company, Marc Newson Limited, has been based since 1997. He has had ongoing relationships with companies such as Apple, Louis Vuitton, Montblanc, Hermès, Nike, Hennessy, Dom Pérignon, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and Beretta 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’ (2014).
Marc Newson graduated from Sydney University in 1986 and with the aid of an Australian Crafts Council grant staged his first solo exhibition at the age of 23. By the age of 25, Marc 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 remain highly sought after on the secondary market and by 2010 accounted for 24% of total auction sales in the category for Sotheby’s, Christie’s, and Phillips.
Marc is the only industrial designer represented by the Gagosian Gallery, and alongside Frank Gehry forms the gallery’s ‘Masters of Design.’ 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 (MoMA) and Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Design Museum (London), V&A Museum (London), Musée National d’Art Moderne, Centre Pompidou (Paris), Musée des Arts Décoratifs (Paris), Vitra Design Museum (Weil am Rhein), Museum Angewandte Kunst (Frankfurt), Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg, MUDE- Museu do Design e da Moda (Lisbon), Israel Museum (Jerusalem), Powerhouse Museum (Sydney), and the National Gallery of Victoria (Melbourne). He has also been appointed Chair of the London Design Museum’s International Design Council.
As a long-term, and on-going, supporter of the charity (RED), Marc co-curated with Sir Jonathan Ive a design auction in 2013 which raised a staggering $46 million (USD) for The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
Marc Newson has been included in TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People and has received numerous awards and distinctions. He holds an Honorary Doctorate from Sydney University, Adjunct Professorships at Sydney University and Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and was 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 in countless books and publications and there are three monographs to date including 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 (2010), BBC’s Imagine ‘Marc Newson Urban Spaceman’ (2008), Objects of Desire on Sky Arts, and ‘Objectified’, a documentary film by Gary Hustwit.
Design Awards
2020-
2022
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
2022
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
Selected Talks and Podcasts
2022
'Marc Newson', The Ultimate Road Trip Podcast
Availablehere
2021
‘Marc Newson: Design Works’, Sydney Design Week, The Powerhouse Museum
Available here
2020
‘Art of Influence: Marc Newson’, Sydney College of the Arts
Availablehere
2019
‘Marc Newson’, HODINKEE Radio
Availablehere
2013
‘Designer of Scale’, TEDxSydney
Availablehere
FAQs
What nationality is Marc Newson? ›
Marc Newson, (born 1963, Sydney, Australia), Australian designer known most notably for creating unique household goods, furniture, and interior spaces from unusual materials. Newson attended the Sydney College of the Arts and graduated in 1984 with a degree in jewelry and sculpture.
What is Marc Newson doing now? ›In 1997 he moved to London, where he and business partner Benjamin de Haan set up Marc Newson Ltd. He is currently adjunct professor in design at Sydney College of the Arts (where he first studied sculpture and jewellery) and is the creative director for Qantas.
What was Marc Newson influenced by? ›Newson was born in Sydney, Australia, and his early years were infused with the impactful experiences of extensive international travel. The exposure to new places undoubtedly influenced his emerging design sense at an early age, and he worked to develop this sense as a student at the Sydney College of Arts.
What did Marc Newson invent? ›By the age of 25, Marc 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.
What is the Lockheed Lounge? ›One of Newson's most famous early works, the Lockheed Lounge was designed in 1990 and featured in Madonna's 1993 music video for “Rain.” Ten editions were made, with four artist's proofs and one prototype.
What awards has Marc Newson won? ›Designer of the Year Award in 2006. Man of the Year Award, for Design in 2008. The George Nelson Design Award, USA in 1999. Recently, Newson was listed in Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World and was appointed The Royal Designer for Industry in the UK.