Mark Ian Jones

I am a UNSW NEXUS Fellow, design historian and a Chartered Architect in the Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture, School of Art and Design. I have held several academic leadership positions at UNSW including Faculty Director Education Innovation in 2021 and Deputy Head of School (Design) between 2016-20. I have extensive curriculum development and teaching experience in the areas of Design, Interior Design, Architecture, Design History and Theory, and Design Practice, at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

My design historical research has involved developing alternative Swedish and Scandinavian design histories that bring previously peripheral yet significant designers to the fore, while revealing the exclusionary practices and ingrained stereotypes of Nordic design to revise the canon. The resulting achievements deliver an entirely novel understanding of Nordic design in relation to its internationalisation. My sole authored book, ˜Vicke Lindstrand On the Periphery: Mid-twentieth century Swedish design and the reception of Vicke Lindstrand, was published in the Figura Nova Series by Uppsala University Press in November 2016.

My recent publications advance knowledge of Nordic and Italian design relations with Australia that locate Australia as an important site of cultural diplomacy through design during the mid-twentieth century. This background informs my current research project that examines nation building through the diffusion of design ideas in post-war Australia that positions the Australian department store David Jones as a case study. The impact of my research has led to funding, engagement in the museum sector through exhibitions, commissions, a fellowship, public lectures, and programs. I have been invited to contribute to publications and present keynotes at international embassies. I have been interviewed and spoken about my research through media outlets in Australia and Sweden.

I have been awarded grants and awards from local and international organisations that include Estrid Ericsons Foundation Sweden, The Swedish Institute, Hallenbladska Fund Sweden, King Gustaf VI Adolfs fund for Swedish Culture, Swedish Royal Patriotic Society Grants Fund, Långmanska Fund Sweden, UNSW Art & Design Faculty Publication and Research Grants and the University of New South Wales College of Fine Arts Award for excellence in Post-Graduate Research. Between 2009-2012 I was a Swedish Institute Guest Researcher in the Department of Art History at Uppsala University, Sweden and a 2022-23 MAAS Powerhouse Museum Visiting Research Fellow.

As a chartered architect, I have an extensive industry background as a design practitioner. I am principal of the Sydney based design studio, Jones Architecture, founded in 1995 that specialises in small to medium scale projects, including private houses, public buildings, multi-residential, retail, and interiors. Prior to establishing Jones Architecture, I held senior positions in commercial architectural practices in the UK and Australia. To date, I have completed over AUD $40.0m of built projects. Since my first public commission by Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust Sydney for the design of The Palm Grove Centre shop and visitor centre, completed in 2000, I has completed a further 26 built projects. My practice continues to work with both public and private clients on a number of small, medium and large scale projects in Sydney and my projects have been published internationally.