Terence Conran, founder of the Design Museum, designer, philanthropist and businessman, has passed away on Saturday, September 12th. He was 88 years old.

Conran founded the Design Museum in Shad Thames in 1989, and in 2016, the museum was relocated to Keningston, West London where architect John Pawson transformed the organization's 1960s modernist building into an authentic new home. As one of the world's leading museums devoted to contemporary architecture and design, the Design Museum has staged over 100 exhibitions, welcoming over seven million visitors and showcasing the world of names like Paul Smith, Zaha Hadid, Jonathan Ive, Frank Gehry, Eileen Gray and Dieter Rams.

Conran received a medal for Arts Philanthropy in 2012 for is ongoing support and commitment to the museum. In 2017, the Queen awarded him the Order of the Companions of Honor for his contributions to the arts.

A true multidisciplinarian, Terence studied textile design at London's Central School of Art and upon leaving in 1948, he set up a workshop with his tutor, artist and print-maker Eduardo Paolozzi, where he developed his skills in furniture design, ceramics, and fabrics.

"Terence Conran was instrumental in the re-designing of post-War Britain and his legacy is huge. He is revered by generations of designers from Mary Quant and David Mellor to Thomas Heatherwick and Jonny Ive. He changed the way we lived and shopped and ate. He also created a great institution – the Design Museum - of which he was justifiably proud and with which he remained fully engaged right to the end of his extraordinary life. It was a privilege and an inspiration to know him," said Tim Marlow, Director and Chief Executive at the Design Museum in a statement.

Terence's accolades and accomplishments are almost endless: he founded Habitat in 1964, the furniture company that he from a single outlet in London to a national and international chain; he contributed his own professional design work through The Conran Design Group, founded over 60 years ago, specializing in interiors, hospitality design, graphics, products, and homeware. 

Even further, Conran became a renowned restaurateur. The Soup Kitchen was his first restaurant, founded with Ivan Storey, it opened in London in 1953. Other restaurants the Terence opened include Pont de la Tour, Bibendum Orrey, Quaglino's and Mezzo. 

Deyan Sudjic, Director Emeritus at the Design Museum said in a statement: "No one has done more to create modern Britain than Terence Conran. He spent his whole career looking for ways to make life better for everyone." 

Lord Mandelson, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Design Museum added of Conran: "Terence Conran has filled our lives for generations with ideas, innovation and brilliant design. He is one of the most iconic figures of post war Britain, starting to recast the world of design when as a young man he joined the team working on the 1951 Festival of Britain and never stopping from that moment on. He leaves a treasure trove of household and industrial design that will stay with us forever. And in the Design Museum which he conceived, inspired and drove, he has the most brilliant, enduring tribute and legacy. All of us at the Museum will miss him terribly and never lose sight of what he believed in and what he has contributed to the UK story."

Conran's family also shared their sadness of the loss of their dear relative: "In his private life he was adored by his family and friends and we will miss him dearly. It gives us great comfort to know that many of you will mourn with us but we ask that you celebrate Terence's extraordinary legacy and contribution to the country he loved so dearly."