catalog of living: taschen explores marc newson's 40-year design journey in new book

Marc Newson. Works 84-24 by TASCHEN

Known for his boundless creativity that transcends conventional boundaries, Marc Newson stands as an icon in the design world. From emblematic furniture pieces and product designs to architectural projects, and even ventures into the realm of transportation, Newson’s creativity knows no limits. TASCHEN’s latest release, Marc Newson. Works 84-24, takes readers on a journey through the renowned designer’s career, showcasing his diverse portfolio with vibrant images and commentary straight from Newson himself.

During Milan Design Week 2024, design enthusiasts had the opportunity to have a firsthand experience of Newson’s creative universe at the TASCHEN store in Milan, where the designer introduced the new volume. Amidst the buzz of the book signing, designboom spoke to the designer who emphasized his drive to confront challenges. ‘I don’t design to acquire or collect things. It’s really about satisfying the desire to solve different problems that you encounter,’ he shares. Dive deeper into the world of Marc Newson and read the full interview below.

portrait of Marc Newson | image © designboom

Interview with Marc Newson

designboom (DB): So, 40 years of work! How does it feel to see everything in one volume?

Marc Newson (MN): Well, we did a book together with TASCHEN about 10 years ago. It was actually bigger than this. It didn’t include the last 10 years, which were very busy. So now, I’m really happy with this one. This was what I wanted to do 10 years ago. It is much more comprehensive. The one that we did before was limited. This book is, I think, much more accessible. It’s a straightforward book.

cover of Marc Newson. Works 84-24 | courtesy of TASCHEN

DB: In the press release, the book is described as a catalog of living. Do you agree with this description?

MN: I guess that’s true. I mean, that’s why I design. That’s why I do what I do. I don’t design to acquire or collect things. It’s really about satisfying the desire to solve different problems that you encounter. It’s kind of an occupational hazard that I want to analyze things and think: Could I do it? Could I do it differently? Could I do it better, or at least better for me?

DB: It is always so interesting to see your scope of work and how it expands to all aspects.

MN: I don’t see why designers shouldn’t be able to try to design all sorts of different things, At the end of the day, it’s just different scales, different materials, and different processes and techniques. It seemed natural to me. I don’t know if it feels natural for many designers. But that’s the way I work.

LOCKHEED LOUNGE, 1988 POD/MARC NEWSON EDITION Riveted aluminum, GRP, rubberized paint (edition of 10 + 4 artist’s proofs [black feet] + 1 prototype [white feet]) © Marc Newson

DB: What are some of your highlights in the book?

MN: That’s a tough question. I’m even surprised that there’s so much stuff. You know, you finish a project and you essentially forget about it. You’re always moving to the next one, and solving the next problem. You forget about everything in the past. I really do put it out of my mind. I’m not thinking about the whole catalog of work. I’m only thinking about what’s in front of me today. Generally, if you ask me what’s the most important project, I would say the one I’m working on now. Right now, I’m doing a fantastic project, which is not in the book. Even though the book goes to this year, it doesn’t include stuff that I’m working on.

MARBLE FURNITURE, 2007 Voronoi Shelf (white Carrara marble) (edition of 8) © Marc Newson

MN (continued): Actually, there is one big project in the book, that is not out yet, but will come out next year. It’s a big boat. I’ve been starting to work on a lot of boats. I did this other boat (Solaris) a couple of years ago, which was also a huge project. That’s made, finished, done. Then we started this one (Nausicaa Megayacht), which is a really fun thing. That’s the only thing in the book that is unfinished.

In my last book, there was a section that took up a lot of space about either projects that were never realized, or projects that were coming in the future. The trouble with that is that you never really know if those projects are going to happen or not. Things change at the last minute, you know. We decided not to include that stuff this time. We wanted to keep the book closer to reality.

CLOISONNÉ DESK, 2019 Glass enamel, copper (edition of 3 + 2 artist’s proofs for each colorway: blue, white peony) © Marc Newson

CLOISONNÉ DESK, 2019 The first firing of the desk fuses the partitions onto the form. © Marc Newson

CLOISONNÉ LOUNGE, 2019 Glass enamel, copper (edition of 3 + 2 artist’s proofs for each colorway: white, red, black blossom, white & blue) © Marc Newson