Terence Conran: Making Modern Britain
Tokyo Station Gallery
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Terence Conran
Sir Terence Conran (1931-2020) believed that "Plain, Simple, Useful" design enhances the quality of life. He pursued design-driven transformation with a broad perspective that spanned from individual living spaces to urban and societal scales. This exhibition is the first in Japan to delve into the life of Conran, who brought significant change to British lifestyle culture and sparked a design boom.
Conran began his career as a textile and tableware pattern designer shortly after World War II. In the 1960s, he successfully launched and expanded "Habitat," a groundbreaking shop chain offering home styling solutions, showcasing his entrepreneurial skills. The concept of the select shop, as developed through "The Conran Shop" starting in the 1970s, revolutionized the global design market, including in Japan. His influence extended across various fields, including product development for furniture, urban redevelopment that revitalized London’s warehouse districts, and publishing. Additionally, from the 1950s onwards, Conran ventured into the restaurant business, establishing over 50 establishments ranging from high-end restaurants to casual cafes, and embedding the modern British culinary style into the UK's food culture. One of his most notable achievements was the establishment of the Design Museum in 1989, a vision he had nurtured for many years, making it a reality ahead of the world.
This exhibition features over 300 items and materials, including early products like patterned tableware and textiles, maquettes for furniture designs, items for shops and restaurants, personal belongings that inspired his ideas, his writings, photographs, and videos. It also includes interviews with people who were influenced by him, offering a multifaceted portrayal of Conran.
"Design making life richer—this has always been the most important thing for me."
— Terence Conran, "My Life in Design"
Conran began his career as a textile and tableware pattern designer shortly after World War II. In the 1960s, he successfully launched and expanded "Habitat," a groundbreaking shop chain offering home styling solutions, showcasing his entrepreneurial skills. The concept of the select shop, as developed through "The Conran Shop" starting in the 1970s, revolutionized the global design market, including in Japan. His influence extended across various fields, including product development for furniture, urban redevelopment that revitalized London’s warehouse districts, and publishing. Additionally, from the 1950s onwards, Conran ventured into the restaurant business, establishing over 50 establishments ranging from high-end restaurants to casual cafes, and embedding the modern British culinary style into the UK's food culture. One of his most notable achievements was the establishment of the Design Museum in 1989, a vision he had nurtured for many years, making it a reality ahead of the world.
This exhibition features over 300 items and materials, including early products like patterned tableware and textiles, maquettes for furniture designs, items for shops and restaurants, personal belongings that inspired his ideas, his writings, photographs, and videos. It also includes interviews with people who were influenced by him, offering a multifaceted portrayal of Conran.
"Design making life richer—this has always been the most important thing for me."
— Terence Conran, "My Life in Design"
Schedule | Oct 12 (Sat) 2024-Jan 5 (Sun) 2025 Opening Hours Information
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| Fee | Adults ¥1500, University and High School Students ¥1300, Junior High School Students and Under free. | ||||
| MuPon | ¥100 off / Up to 1 people / Applicable to general, high school and college students. Cannot be used in conjunction with other special offers or discounts.  Download the TAB app to get a discount on entry to this event. ※Paid subscriber only | ||||
| Website | https://www.ejrcf.or.jp/gallery/exhibition/202410_conran.html | ||||
| Venue | Tokyo Station Gallery http://www.ejrcf.or.jp/english/index.html | ||||
| Location | 1-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0005 | ||||
| Access | Near the North exit of JR Tokyo Station (inside the Tokyo Station Marunouchi Building) | ||||
| Phone | 03-3212-2485 |
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