Conran

Conran is a surname most commonly linked to Sir Terence Conran, a prominent British designer, retailer, and author whose work helped popularize modern design in postwar Britain. Born in 1931, Terence Conran built a design empire spanning retail, dining, publishing, and interiors.

In 1964 he founded Habitat, a chain of furniture stores that made contemporary, functional design widely available to a broad audience. The Conran brand later expanded to The Conran Shop and a diversified portfolio of design and interior projects, alongside publishing and media activities that shaped public discussion of design.

The Conran Group, or Conran Holdings, became a major presence in British design and retail, known for integrating form, usability, and accessible price points. Terence Conran received several honors for his contributions to design, including a knighthood.

The Conran name is associated with other designers who have carried on the family’s design legacy, including Sebastian Conran, a product and industrial designer, and Jasper Conran, a fashion designer. Through these and related ventures, the Conran surname has remained linked to contemporary design, consumer culture, and the broader discourse on everyday living.