Australian Marc Newson’s name has become synonymous with extraordinary design. The Sydney native is a great ambassador for furniture and product design on the global stage, creating one-off masterpieces under his own name and collaborating with brands such as Knoll, Montblanc, Louis Vuitton and Apple.
The Legendary Lockheed Lounge
The Lockheed Lounge by Marc Newson. Image: marc-newson.com
The now London-based Newson is known his signature aesthetic of organic forms brought to life by precision engineering; the multi-disciplinary designer has worked across the furniture, product and technology sectors. His famous Lockheed Lounge was one of the first pieces he designed. The riveted aluminum and fiberglass chaise lounge still sets records at auction.
Named after the legendary American airplane manufacturer Lockheed, it is a nod to the industrial era while its fluid lines are a triumph of contemporary design. Newson created ten limited editions of the Lockheed Lounge, with one going under the hammer in 2015 for £2,434,500.
Organic Forms – Precision Engineering
The Newson Aluminum Chair by Marc Newson for Knoll is another beautiful example of contemporary design. Its deceptive simplicity is amplified by the precision in execution and materials.
Newson Aluminium Chair by Marc Newson for Knoll. Image: marc-newson.com
Furniture as Art
Newson is in that rare category of furniture designer whose talent has been recognised by the higher echelons of the art world. In January 2019, Gagosian gallery presented new works by Marc Newson. This explored rare decorative techniques at a large scale, such as this table, part of the Murrina (2017) limited edition series.
Table from the Murrina (2017) range by Marc Newson
Australia is a cradle for design talent. The VIVID Design Awards is Australia’s longest running competition for emerging designers. VIVID has kick-started the careers of many prolific Australian designers, such as Dowel Jones, and is a highly anticipated industry platform. The next VIVID Design Awards will be presented on the 16th July 2020, first day of the Australian International Furniture Fair (AIFF) in Melbourne. However, visitors to the show will be able to view the finalists’ work at the VIVID stand over all four days of the show.
AIFF is one of the country’s premier platforms for Australian furniture design. The 2020 show will take place from the 16th – 19th July at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, co-located with the Decor + Design show. Together they will be a platform for designers and retail buyers to see 500+ brands from across indoor and outdoor furniture, lighting, textiles, soft furnishings and art.
Register now to be approved as a free trade visitor. If you are an emerging designer, go here to find out how to enter the VIVID Design Awards. Entries close 20th March 2020.