Terence Conran: Designs for Life

Whether you regard Sir Terence Conran as an ambitious visionary or a restless control freak, the fact is that this 73-year-old English designer and "lifestyle guru" stays forever busy. He designs chairs, sofas and vases; restaurants, bars and cafes; apartment rooms and hotels. He consults, he lectures and he spends a lot of time thinking about design's place in our lives.

After studying at the Central School of Arts and Crafts in London, Conran joined the Rayon Centre as a full-time industrial designer in 1950. Two years later, at age 21, he set up his own furniture-making business, which was the starting point of his career. In 1964 he opened the first Habitat store on Fulham Road in London and began offering an array of affordable modern design products to customers in postwar Britain.

Then, in the 1980s, his horizons as a "lifestyle guru" expanded further when he ventured into the restaurant business, over which he has since come to have a tremendous influence on the London scene and beyond.

Celebrated as someone who democratized design by making it more accessible and affordable, Conran was awarded a knighthood in 1983 for his contribution to the design and retailing industry.

Ten years ago, Conran launched the first Conran Shop in Shinjuku Park Tower in Tokyo. While the items sold in this and the other two he h