Mark Challen

Mark Challen

Style Expert and VP of Communications at House & Home Media

Style and design expert Mark Challen is the Vice-President of Communications for House & Home Media, where he oversees a diverse portfolio of Canadian and international design, fashion and home entertaining clients. Working with companies including Kraft, IKEA and Intel, Mark creates custom multi-media campaigns for House & Home Magazine. Mark’s lively and motivational image-based talks provide audiences across Canada with relevant information and connections between cultural shifts in design, decorating, entertainment, and celebrity culture.


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Style and design expert Mark Challen is the Vice-President of Communications for House & Home Media, where he oversees a diverse portfolio of Canadian and international design, fashion and home entertaining clients. Working with companies including Kraft, Unilever and Samsung, Mark creates custom multi-media campaigns for House & Home Magazine.

As a trends expert covering the design and style beat, Mark has appeared as a regular guest on House & Home TV, Entertainment Tonight Canada and he speaks to audiences across Canada making relevant connections between cultural shifts in design, decorating, entertainment, and celebrity culture. Prior to his work with House & Home Media, Mark has held editing and public relations positions with several prominent Canadian publications including Canadian Art, Toronto Life Fashion and Toronto Life Gardens. He has a BA in Art History and English from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario and has his MA in Art History from York University.

Mark’s lively and motivational image-based talks provide audiences with up-to-the-minute meditations on the style zeitgeist, helping people to stay in the know.

  • 1. Stay Style Fit

    Mark Challen will teach you how to bring a critical eye to pop culture so that you can connect the dots between fashion, design, entertainment, food and culture ... and ultimately stay super-relevant and on-top of the style zeitgeist.
     
    This is a fun and edgy presentation filled with tons of zippy images, as well as practical and cutting-edge design suggestions. This is the perfect addition to seminars and conferences that are hosting weightier, more research-driven presentations.

  • 4. Lowbrow vs. Highbrow: Art and Celebrity Culture

  • 3. Making Sense of Current Design and Decorating Trends

  • 2. The Style Cooler: What People Are Talking About Now (Stay Relevant!)

  • I have had the pleasure of hearing Mark speak many times at Canadian House & Home's annual Trends Breakfast. What strikes me most is how Mark connects with his audience in a seemingly effortless way; it's the tone of his voice, the way he moves. He is at once passionate and enthusiastic while making the subject he's discussing immediately relevant to the people listening.
    Jane Gill Public Relations
  • Mark has been one of our most enthusiastic, knowledgeable and entertaining speakers bar none. His knowledge of the design world is far-reaching referencing popular designers, styles and trends. He is always of the moment and a zeitgeist guru. Without exception, Mark's audience has always remained glued to their seats for the entire duration of his talks. He is truly a natural, always putting everyone at ease – be it the other speaker(s) or the audience. I have invited Mark to be a keynote speaker, public host and interviewer on many occasions for our consumer and trade shows. As a keynote at Explore Design: the Design Education Fair for Youth, he shared tips of the trade with the next generation of designers; at the Interior Design Show, he has interviewed well-known design personalities like Brian Gluckstein from our main stage; and has moderated a panel discussion with the world's most prolific design bloggers where his knowledge and enthusiasm for the topic was contagious. He has been a true asset to our events and in a heartbeat, would invite him to participate again!
    MMPI Canada
  • I have had the pleasure of hearing Mark Challen speak at magazine industry functions in several capacities: as moderator, emcee and presenter. Mark has the rare gift of instantly connecting with his audience and eliciting a positive response. His secret lies in preparation, infectious enthusiasm for the topic at hand and the innate ability to read, lead and intrigue an audience. When Mark speaks, people can't help but listen. Mark is a true professional.
    Magazines Canada
  • I had the pleasure of working with Mark as the emcee for Fashion Group International Toronto's recent Style & Design event. Mark was extremely professional and prepared, and made our guests feel welcome and engaged.
    Bounce Publicity Inc.