Mark Cleverley
Mark Cleverley | |
|---|---|
| Born | 21 November 1933 Papakura, Auckland |
| Died | 7 May 2022 (aged 88) New Zealand |
| Occupation | Designer |
| Notable work | Crown Lynn |
Mark Cleverley (21 November 1933 – 7 May 2022) was a New Zealand designer active from the 1960s to the 1990s. He was most notable for his work as Development Designer at Crown Lynn Potteries from 1968 until the early 1980s.[1]
Early life
[edit]Cleverly was born in 1933 in Papakura.[1] In his childhood, Cheverly recalled that he had a love of functional drawing rather than typical fine art studies, preferring to work in line and geometric shapes.[2]
Career
[edit]Cleverley started his career at age 18 when living in Hamilton. During this time he worked as an architectural draughtsman at the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy.[3] After this, he moved to Christchurch to work at Warren and Mahoney before winning a scholarship to the Ilam School of Fine Arts where he became one of the first students in the new graphic design programme.[2]
Following his study, Cleverley freelanced in graphic design and, in 1969, he entered a design competition held by the New Zealand Post Office.[4] Postage stamps were considered one of the most consistent means of advertising and projecting New Zealand identity aboard. As a result, it was important that the stamps both moulded and encapsulated public taste.[5] Cleverley's stamps completed to a dramatic shift in the New Zealand design aesthetic as they were very different from what had been done before.[2] These modernist and simplified designs which proved to be very popular.[3][6][7]
Some of Cleverley's most distinctive postage stamps included the Ross Dependency series and 1970 New Zealand Exposition stamps.[8]
Crown Lynn
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In 1967, Cleverley was hired at Crown Lynn Potteries by Dave Jenkins. Crown Lynn already knew of Cleverley's work as he had won two design competitions and entered others.[4] In his role as Development Designer, Cleverley worked to produce designs which merged overseas tastes with New Zealand styles.[4]
During his time at Crown Lynn, Cleverley became well known for his introduction of new designs and printing techniques, taking reference from indigenous patterns and fighting conservative design ideas.[3][9]
Some of his most well known work included the New Zealand parliamentary dining suite for the Bellamy's restaurant and the floral Echo deign.[8][4]
Teaching
[edit]After leaving Crown Lynn Potteries, Cleverley took up teaching roles in Christchurch and Wellington. He taught at the Wellington School of Design for more than a decade and the College Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Claire Robinson recalled that he his work has "a deceptive simplicity, reflecting his belief that anything a designer does must make a contribution."[8] His students noted his passion for typography and design history, in addition to his enthusiasm and engagement with their projects.[3]
Achievements and awards
[edit]In 1972, Cleverley became a full member of the prestigious Society of Industrial Artists and Designers (SIAD) in the United Kingdom.[10] He was also nominated as the New Zealand representative in the 1974 International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID) Interdesign conference in Canada.[10]
Cleverley was also awarded a Winston Churchill Fellowship for a research project on bilingual design in 1987.[10] In 2013, the was elected to the Massey University College of Creative Arts Hall of Fame.[10]
In 2014, Cleverley was received a Black Pin for Outstanding Achievement by The Designers Institute, awarded to those who have made a lasting contribution to the design profession.[3]
Bibliography
[edit]- 1 2 "Cleverley, Mark, 1933-". natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 Valentine, Jonty (2014). Mark Cleverley: Designer. Auckland, New Zealand: David Bateman Ltd. ISBN 978-1-86953-869-9.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Mark Cleverley — The Designers Institute of New Zealand". designersinstitute.nz. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Stevenson, Louise (28 March 2020). "Mark Cleverley". Te Toi Uku, Crown Lynn Museum. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- ↑ Wolfe, Richard (1 November 2010). It's in the post: the stories behind New Zealand stamps. Potton & Burton. ISBN 9781877517280.
- ↑ "Mark Cleverley: Designer | Best Design Awards". bestawards.co.nz. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
- ↑ "Mark Cleverley". collections.tepapa.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Mark Cleverley". creative.massey.ac.nz. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- ↑ Dekker, Diana (11 October 2014). "Cleverley made design". Stuff. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Mark Cleverley: Objectspace Master of Craft — Objectspace". www.objectspace.org.nz. Retrieved 18 July 2026.