Marc Newson is Australia's most successful contemporary designer. Since graduating from Sydney College of the Arts in 1984, he has worked in Japan, Italy and France and currently runs a high profile international practice in London. During his 20-year career he has designed, amongst other things, furniture, lighting, interiors, watches, home wares, a bike, a concept car and a jet. Most recently Newson has designed the Qantas business-class Skybed and first class lounges in Sydney and Melbourne as well as the new Qantas A380 Airbus interiors. He appears regularly in international design journals and his work is represented in collections throughout the world.

Newson first displayed his iconic 'Lockheed Lounge' in his graduation exhibition at Sydney College of the Arts in 1983. He then launched a commercial version in 1986 at a Sydney gallery where it created a sensation. Produced in a limited edition since the late 1980s, it is now an international design icon. Newson developed this fibreglass and aluminium model in Sydney in the late 1980s to assist with the production of the 'Lockheed Lounge'.

Anne Watson
March 2008

Australian designer, Marc Newson, developed this model around 1990 to assist with the production of his 'Lockheed Lounge'. The mould came from the Sydney workshop where Newson and later, Eckhard Reissig, produced the lounge in a limited edition. Marc Newson notes that 'Eckhard Reissig took over production from me [of the lounge] but had no involvement in the production of the plug or mould' (2008).

The production model appears to have been created to demonstrate the construction method of the Lockheed Lounge.

Production model, section of 'Lockheed Lounge', fibreglass / aluminium / perspex / rubber, designed and made by Marc Newson, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1988-1990

A model in fibreglass, aluminium and perspex representing the lower section of the Lockheed Lounge. The fibreglass body features a flat side that leads into a curved and moulded form. The upper-middle section, curved end and leg are covered with plates of riveted aluminium, while the foot of the leg is coated in black rubber. The remainder of the curved surface is clad with unpolished aluminium marked with squares and rectangles in blue ink. The upper section features an oval perspex window that reveals the hollow interior.

Designed: Newson, Marc; Sydney, New South Wales; 1988 - 1990

Made: Newson, Marc; Sydney, New South Wales; 1989 - 1990

Manufacturer's mark on underside, stamped 'BASECRAFT SYDNEY 7 1'.

2008/98/1

1988 - 1990

340 mm

730 mm

600 mm