GRAY is sad to hear about the unexpected death of Marcus Fairs, founder, CEO, and editor-in-chief of Dezeen. Fairs launched Dezeen in his spare bedroom in 2006, and over the past 16 years it has grown into one of the world’s most popular digital design magazines.
Through Dezeen, Fairs changed the landscape of design journalism, imbuing the site with his unwavering belief in the cultural, social, and political importance of architecture and design. Before Dezeen, Fairs was the founder and editor of Icon, an international design and architecture publication. His work has also appeared in numerous international titles including The Guardian and Conde Nast Traveler. In 2017 Fairs was the first digital journalist to be awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Institute of British Architects.
“I met Marcus this past May when we were both in Iceland for DesignMarch,” says GRAY’s deputy editor Rachel Gallaher. “Even in a short conversation, you could sense his insatiable curiosity and belief in the power of design. He was a visionary, a true capital-J Journalist, and an undeniable leader in the design industry.”
Fairs is survived by his wife Rupinder Bhogal, his children Jordi and Millie Fairs, his parents, and his sister.