Ken Done (b. Sydney 1940)is undoubtedly the most popular Australian designer of the twentieth century,and one of the few with an international reputation. He has a unique place in the history and development of Australian art. Because of the quality and breadth of this archive, it will be of enormous importance to future researchers and historians of Australian artistic, cultural and social activity in the late twentieth century. The archive enhances the Powerhouse Museum's impressive collection of archives relating to Australian designers of significance.

The Ken Done archive highlights Done's multi-disciplinary approach to design and production and the evolution of the Done Art & Design company - a Ken Done marketing success story of the 1980s and 1990s. During his career, Done's work spanned television and graphic advertising campaigns through to painting, product, graphic, textile and fashion design. The archive documents many projects including Done's Australia flag design commissioned by the AUSFLAG committee (1995), Kosta Boda glass (1987), Suntory Beer cans (1991), Hanako magazine covers, Tokyo (1988 to 2000) and a BMW art car (1989). Included also are many representations of the distinctive 'Ken Done look' or regional graphic style which Done applied to events of national and international significance such as the Australian Pavilion identity at World Expo '88 (1988), World Design Congress graphics (1999) and the programs for the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Done's indisputable, and at times controversial, contribution to Australian identity, is well documented in the archive and curatorial research file. This is best illustrated in his many depictions of Sydney as a sophisticated, relaxing and fun place to visit, often with fireworks at night as in the painting used in the inside rear cover of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games opening ceremony program.

Done was made a member of the Order of Australia for services to art, design and tourism in 1992.

Born in Sydney in 1940, Done attended the National Art School at East Sydney Technical College from 1954 and then worked for the Smith and Julius advertising studios in 1959 and Australian Applied Advertising in 1960 before opening his own studio, Visual Communications.

Done left Sydney for America where he worked for McCann-Erickson in Los Angeles and J Walter Thompson in New York (1965). Lacking a working visa for the USA, Done moved to London where he became art supervisor at J Walter Thompson (1967) handling accounts for Barcardi Rum, Silhouette Swimwear, Campari and Gillette amongst others.

In 1965 Ken Done married Judy Walker, an Australian model who later went on to work successfully as a fashion designer. Judy and Ken Done returned to Australia in 1969. Ken joining J Walter Thompson in Sydney in 1970.
Ken Done and Associates was established with writer Ken Mitchell in 1975.
Judy and Ken's daughter Camilla was born in 1970, their son Oscar in 1976.
Ken worked part-time as creative director with Quinlon, Mitchell, Malinot and Scott from 1976 to 1979.

Done's first solo exhibitions were held in 1980 at the Holdsworth Galleries, Sydney and at his own newly established gallery, the Art Directors Gallery in Ridge Street, North Sydney which he promoted with a single colour, screen printed 'Sydney Harbour' t-shirt.

This t-shirt became a signature piece for Ken Done's distinctly regional style of art and design for the next 20 years. From 1980 continued to closely associate his art with commercial production which led to an enormously successful commercial enterprise known as the Done company.

At the same time, Done received commissions to apply his personal graphic style to a wide range of projects including Kosta Boda glass (1987), Suntory Beer cans (1991) and Hanako magazine covers in Japan (1988 to 2000) and a BMW art car (1989).

Done's distinctive regional graphic style was also applied to events of national significance such as the Australian Pavilion identity at World Expo '88 (1988), the World Design Congress graphics (1999) and the programs for the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

He made a major contribution to the construction of Australian identity during the later part of the 20th century by appealingly imaging Australia as a colourful, sophisticated, relaxing and fun place to visit through for example, his bold depictions of Sydney with fireworks at night and tropical fish in pristine waters or sunny golden beaches.

Done was made a member of the Order of Australia for services to art, design and tourism in 1992.

Archive selected from the personal collection of the donor.

Collection of fashion (14), fashion accessories (10), homewares (3), fashion infringements (5), painting (1), Done Art and Design, Australia, 1980-2000
Painting: 'Parrot Fish'
Fashion: T-shirts (6), shorts, childs; scarf; baseball cap; boxer shorts; sweat shirt; waistcoat; bow tie;
Fashion accessories: socks, pair; toy koala; purse, childs; scarves (3); shoes, pair; earrings, pair; ring; pendant & chain
Homewares: Pasta; pasta sauce; vase
Fashion infringements: coasters in box; dress; fabric samples; t-shirt, incomplete, t-shirt, childs

Made: 1950 - 2000

2001/70/2

1950 - 2000