Nanette Helen Cameron (27 September 1927 – 13 April 2023) was a New Zealand interior designer, and educator. Cameron taught New Zealand's first course in interior design, and opened the Nanette Cameron School of Interior Design in 1975, and co-founded the Pakuranga Arts Society. In 2004 Cameron was awarded a

Queen's Service Medal The King's Service Medal (created as the Queen's Service Medal in 1975 and renamed in 2024) is a medal awarded by the government of New Zealand to recognise and reward volunteer service to the community and also public service in elected or app ...

for community service.

Career

Cameron attended the

University of Otago The University of Otago () is a public university, public research university, research collegiate university based in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. Founded in 1869, Otago is New Zealand's oldest university and one of the oldest universities in ...

where she gained a degree in

home economics Home economics, also called domestic science or family and consumer sciences (often shortened to FCS or FACS), is a subject concerning human development, personal and family finances, consumer issues, housing and interior design, nutrition and f ...

. She started working as an interior designer in Auckland, and in 1967 started teaching interior design in night classes at Tamaki College. She also started writing on interior design, and opened the Nanette Cameron School of Interior Design in 1975. Cameron taught New Zealand's first course in interior design. Her approach to design teaching covered history and principles of good design alongside independence, with art writer Philip Clarke saying "Nanette’s approach to design is one that integrates an interest and awareness of contemporary art and architecture, environmental and social issues with individual and social development." With Iris Fisher, Cameron founded the Pakuranga Arts Society, later renamed Te Tuhi. She was also a founding member of the Designers Institute of New Zealand. In 2013 an exhibition on Cameron and her life was shown at Objectspace in Auckland, and an accompanying book ''Nanette Cameron: Interior Design Legend'' was published. Cameron retired from teaching in 2016, at the age of 88. She died at home in Auckland at the age of 95 on 13 April 2023. Her funeral was held at St Joseph's Church in

Grey Lynn Grey Lynn is an inner suburb of Auckland, New Zealand, located to the west of the city centre. Originally a separate borough, Grey Lynn amalgamated with Auckland City in 1914. Grey Lynn is centred on Grey Lynn Park, which was not part of t ...

, where "her casket painted

Yves Klein Blue Yves Klein Blue was an Australian indie rock band from Brisbane, which formed in 2005 and disbanded in 2010. The line-up included Chris Banham on Drum Kit, drums and percussion, Sean Cook on bass guitar, Charles Sale on lead guitar and Keyboard ...

and bedecked with a swathe of bird of paradise flowers". Cameron's daughter is costume and production designer Kirsty Cameron.

Honours and awards

In the 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours Cameron was awarded a Queen's Service Medal for community service. She was made an honorary member of the Designers Institute of New Zealand in YEAR. In 2019 Cameron was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2019 Interior Awards. The citation called her "a true icon of New Zealand design", noting that "Cameron’s prowess as an interior designer and educator has seen her work take on something of a legendary status, as if mythologised under the sheer weight of her enduring influence. Since she began her career in the 1950s, Cameron has inspired and helped define New Zealand’s interior design via both her school and her renowned body of work."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cameron, Nanette 1927 births University of Otago alumni Recipients of the Queen's Service Medal New Zealand interior designers 2023 deaths Designers from Auckland