Know like a pro: Terence Conran

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Jack of all trades: Sir Terence Conran is a designer, restaurateur, writer, architect, retailer and provost of the Royal College of Art

The word prolific was surely invented to describe Sir Terence Conran (1931-, British). Little else quite captures the enormous hold he has in the world of contemporary, affordable design, both in his native England and across the globe. Is there anything this man hasn't done?

What's he famous for…

Picture this... You wake up in your Conran & Partners designed apartment, throw aside your Conran duvet cover and use your Conran towel to shower, with your Conran soap no less. You eat breakfast in your Conran chair. At work, you put on your Conran specs and plan for a business lunch at Quaglino’s (Conran, of course). Back home, you’re stuck for a dinner recipe and pull out Classic Conran to find a recipe. You serve up on crockery designed by Conran. Another day done, you get tucked in and switch off your Conran lamp. Is this some freaky Conran parallel universe you ask? Hardly, dear friends. Welcome to the world of Sir Terence, where no stone is left unturned.

Wings of greatness: the Matador by Conran

Keep a lookout for…

Conran's design career began with a small restaurant called Soup Kitchen and later, he opened the first Habitat store on the Fulham Road in 1964. By 1973 there were 18 Habitats across the country and the first Conran Shop was opened. His style has been credited for shaping middle-class interiors of the 60s and 70s and he literally shaped contemporary 'lifestyle' as we know it. In 1974, Conran's first House Book was published, and it has since become a trusty reference for anyone with an interest in design. His name is now attached to umpteen interiors products, restaurants, books and architectural designs. His Matador chair, part of the Content for Conran collection, seeks to bring quality, affordable designs to the masses.

Insider fact

Entrepreneurial skills came early to Conran. As a boy, he cottoned on quick to the market of girls toys, selling dolls house furniture to his sister's friends. Bless.

Sentence to drop in at a dinner party?

In the religion of solid British design, Sir Terence is certainly at the top of the holy ones. He says of his industry, 'Perhaps believing in good design is like believing in God, it makes you an optimist.'

Sir Terence is an inspiration to us all. Read his blogs on his mydeco profile.

Did you know his daughter Sophie is also a whiz at the drawing board? Find out what it is he doesn't like about her designs in our interview with Sophie. Check out Sophie Conran's mydeco profile.

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