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Royal Designers for Industry

British organisation


Summary

British organisation

Royal Designer for Industry is a distinction established by the British Royal Society of Arts (RSA) in 1936, to encourage a high standard of industrial design and enhance the status of designers. It is the UK’s highest design accolade and is awarded to people who have achieved “sustained design excellence, work of aesthetic value and significant benefit to society”. Those who are British citizens take the letters RDI after their names, while those who are not become Honorary RDIs (HonRDI). Everyone who holds the distinction is a Member of The Faculty of Royal Designers for Industry (founded in 1938).

Their work is diverse, ranging from fashion to engineering, theatre to product design, graphics to environmental design.

New RDIs are elected annually and the Faculty continues to support initiatives to further excellence in design, including an annual Summer Session to inspire new generations of thinkers to design a better world.

Only 200 designers may hold the distinction RDI at any time and it is regarded as the highest honour to be obtained in the United Kingdom in a diverse range of design disciplines. In addition, the RSA may confer HonRDI titles up to a maximum of half the number of people who currently hold the distinction RDI.

New RDIs are awarded Diplomas each year at the annual RDI Dinner. Every two years a new Master of the Faculty is elected by the past Masters, who include Tom Lloyd, Mark Major, Dinah Casson, Mike Dempsey, Sir Kenneth Grange, Geoffrey Harcourt, Martin Hunt, Timothy O’Brien, Chris Wise, Malcolm Garrett and Tristram Carfrae. The current Master is Charlie Paton.

Current members

The list identifies current RDIs, the date of their award, and the category of design for which they were honoured.

RDIs

url=https://www.thersa.org/about-us/royal-designers-for-industry/current-royal-designers/title=Current Royal designerspublisher=RSAaccess-date=12 July 2015}}CategoryYear
Graphic design2025
Multidisciplinary2025
Multidisciplinary design2025
Data visualisation design2025
Stone carving and the design of monuments2025
Furniture design2002
Illustration and design1980
OBEFurniture design2007
Engineering design1995
Costume design2022
Environmental design2010
Interaction design2009
Graphic design1983
CBEGraphic design1981
CBEIllustration1987
MBECostume and set design2005
Graphic design2011
Architectural design2017
Graphic design2002
Product design1998
Set & costume design2013
OBEGraphic design2011
Product design1981
Engineering design2006
Engineering design2004
Engineering design2006
CBEProduct design1974
Type design1981
Graphic design2013
Furniture design1971
Interior design2005
Fashion Design2013
CBEInterior design2006
Production design2009
Production design2009
Architecture2010
Product/Furniture Design2018
OBEFilm production design2004
Textile design2006
Theatre and film design1997
Graphic design1994
Illustration2018
OBETheatre design2018
TV and theatre design1975
Theatre design1988
CBEEngineering design2005
Textile design1984
Designing with sound2012
Graphic design2001
Graphic design2009
Graphic design1974
Illustration1985
Futures Design2021
, Baron Foster of Thames BankInterior design1988
Textile design1998
CBEFashion design2002
MBENew media2000
Engineering design2007
Stamps1970
CBEGeneral design1969
Landscape design2012
Graphic Design2014
OBEExhibitions1974
Furniture design1978
Graphic design2005
TV Production design1990
Engineering design1993
General design2004
Production design2008
Interior design2009
Graphic design1997
Furniture design2004
Graphic design2005
Fashion design2007
Theatre design1999
Fashion design2009
Ceramics and glass1981
Engineering design2005
Exhibitions & museum design1964
KBEProduct design2003
Fashion design1988
{{sortnameEvaJiřičnáJiricna, Eva}}Interior design
Textile design1989
OBEMillinery2009
Interior design2007
Product design1990
Textile design2008
Furniture design1990
Engineering design2001
Graphic design/typography1994
TV graphics1987
Graphic design and caricature1999
Theatre design2003
Boat design1987
Ceramics & glass1995
Product design1995
Production design2008
Film and TV graphics1982
Product design2003
Book design1973
Structural engineering design2004
Designing with light2012
Interior design2005
Graphic design2004
Graphic design1987
Theatre design2004
Production design2006
CBEEngineering design1989
Naval architecture1986
Illustration2013
CBEFurniture design2001
Small craft naval1995
Communication design2017
Theatre & film design1996
CBEGeneral design2006
Theatre design1991
OBEFurniture design2007
CBEAnimation2006
Engineering design2012
Interior design2005
OBEEngineering design2006
Landscape design2012
Product design2008
Costume design1999
Costume design2013
OBEDress design1969
CBEJewellery design1999
Engineering design1994
Textile design2011
Information design2017
DBEFashion and textiles1976
Engineering design1997
Product design1999
Illustration1989
CBEGraphic design2011
CBEIllustration1989
OBEGraphic design2006
CBEFashion design1978
Interior design2005
Service design2018
RIBAProduct design1986
Textile design1995
Film and TV design1998
Interaction design2007
Jewellery design2010
DBEFashion design2001
Engineering design1995
Architecture2012
Landscape design2009
Interior design2009
Structural engineering1998
Graphic design2011
Furniture design2003
Designing with light2013
OBEEngineering design2013

HonRDIs

NameCategoryYear
Transmedia design2025
Structural design2025
Textile design1987
Graphic design2000
General design1991
Shoe design2001
General design2008
Glass design2008
Graphic design1991
Graphic design2005
General design2007
Film and TV graphics2001
Graphic design1998
Design forecasting2013
Product design2013
Furniture design1987
Illustration2006
Theatre and film design1992
Product design2007
Graphic design2006
Furniture design2009
Interaction design2012
Landscape and gardens2001
Illustration1968
Product design2004
Interaction design2012
Product design2023
Fashion design2001
Furniture1979
Furniture design2002
Textile design1983
Graphic design2002
Furniture & product2001
Product design2000
General design2006
Graphic design2011
Lighting design2005
Product design2005
Textile design1997
Textile design1997
Fashion design1988
Graphic design2003
Ceramic design2004
Textile design2004
Illustration2023
Fashion and textiles1988
Landscape design2023
Landscape design2021
Bio design2021
Automotive design1983
Textile design2007
Electrical appliances and furniture1968
Interaction design2012
Graphic design2021
Landscape design2009
Illustration1989
Illustration1986
Type design2007
Architecture2021
General design1973
Costume design2007
Fashion design2008
General design1996
Engineering design2006
Fashion design2006
General design2008
Architecture2012

Former members

Past RDIs

Past Royal Designers for Industry

  • Tony Abbott, Television & theatre design, 1972
  • Ken Adam, Film production design, 2009
  • Edward Ardizzone, Illustration, 1974
  • Hardy Amies, Dress design, 1964
  • Edward Abbott, Illustration, 1974
  • Jon Bannenberg, Motor yachts, 1978
  • Christian Barnard, Transport equipment, 1948
  • Edward Bawden, Graphics, 1949
  • Gerald Benney, Silversmithing, 1971
  • Misha Black, Exhibitions & interiors, 1957
  • John Box, Film production design, 1992
  • Bill Brandt, Photography, 1978
  • William Brown, Bridge design, 1977
  • Stefan Buzas, Exhibitions & interiors, 1961
  • Reco Capey, General design, 1937
  • Andy Cameron, Interactive design, 2011
  • Hugh Casson, Exhibitions, 1961
  • Achille Castiglioni, General design, 1986
  • Hulme Chadwick, Product design, 1974
  • Colin Chapman, Automotive design, 1979
  • Wells Coates, General design, 1944
  • Christopher Cockerell, Engineering design, 1987
  • Douglas Cockerell, Bookbinding, 1936
  • Susie Cooper, Pottery, 1940
  • Kay Cosserat, Textile design, 1986
  • Edward Gordon Craig, Stage design, 1937
  • Gordon Cullen, Illustration & townscape design, 1975
  • Robin Day, Furniture & exhibitions, 1959
  • Lucienne Day, Textiles, 1962
  • Richard Eckersley, Book design, 1999
  • Tom Eckersley, Posters, 1963
  • Alan Fletcher, Graphics & publicity design, 1972
  • Uffa Fox, Small boats, 1955
  • Barnett Freedman, Graphics, 1949
  • Roger Furse, Stage & film design, 1949
  • Abram Games, Posters, 1959
  • James Gardner, Exhibitions, 1947
  • J Laurent Giles, Yachts, 1951
  • Eric Gill, Typography & wood engraving, 1936
  • Robert Goodden, General design, 1947
  • Duncan Grant, Printed textiles, 1941
  • Eileen Gray, Furniture & interiors, 1972
  • Milner Gray, Packaging, 1937
  • E W Grieve, Shop window display, 1940
  • Jacqueline Groag, Textile design, 1964
  • Edmund Happold, Engineering design, 1983
  • Geoffrey de Havilland, Aircraft, 1944
  • Ashley Havinden, Graphics, 1947
  • Lionel Haworth, Engineering design, 1976
  • Ambrose Heal, Furniture, 1939
  • F H K Henrion, Packaging & graphics, 1959
  • Jocelyn Herbert, Theatre & cinema design, 1971
  • Robert Heritage, Furniture, 1963
  • George Him, Graphic design, 1977
  • James Hogan, Glass & stained glass, 1936
  • Paul Hogarth, Illustration, 1979
  • Charles Holden, Transport equipment, 1943
  • Jack Howe, Products and industrial equipment, 1961
  • Allen Hutt, Typographic & Newspaper design, 1970
  • James Irvine, Product design, 2004
  • Laurence Irving, date tbc
  • Alec Issigonis, Motor cars, 1964
  • Ralph Koltai, Theatre design, 1984
  • Natasha Kroll, Shop display and television design, 1966
  • Lynton Lamb, Book design & illustration, 1974
  • Osbert Lancaster, Illustration, 1979
  • Margaret Leischner, Textiles, 1969
  • Richard Levin, Television design, 1971
  • Noel London, Engineering product design, 1973
  • William Lyons, Motor cars, 1964
  • Ethel Mairet, Woven textiles, 1937 (first woman)
  • Eric de Maré, Photography, 1997
  • Enid Marx, Pattern design, 1944
  • J H Mason, 1936
  • James McNeill, Ships, 1950
  • David Mellor, Silver, cutlery & lighting, 1962
  • Percy Metcalfe, Medals & coinage, 1937
  • Francis Meynell, Typography, 1940
  • Bill Moggridge, Product design, 1988
  • Edward Molyneux, Dress, 1950
  • Stanley Morison, Type design & typography, 1960
  • Alastair Morton, textiles, 1960
  • Alex Moulton, Engineering Products, 1968
  • Jean Muir, Dress design, 1972
  • H G Murphy, Goldsmithing, 1936
  • Keith Murray, Glass, pottery & silver, 1936
  • Charles Nicholson, Yachts, 1944
  • Julia Trevelyan Oman, Theatre & film design, 1977
  • Brian O'Rorke, Interiors, 1939
  • Eric Carlton Ottaway, Road passenger vehicles, 1949
  • Derek Prime, Engineering design, 1982
  • Ian Proctor, Boats & small craft, 1969
  • Tom Purvis, Commercial art, 1936
  • Ernest Race, Furniture, 1953
  • A B Read, Light fittings, 1940
  • A A Rubbra, Engineering design, 1977
  • Gordon Russell, Furniture, 1940
  • R D Russell, Furniture, 1944
  • Hans Schleger, Exhibition display & packaging, 1959
  • Hans Schmoller, Typography, 1976
  • Douglas Scott, Industrial designer, 1974
  • Ronald Searle, Illustration, 1991
  • George Sheringham, Interior decoration & textiles, 1936
  • Peter Simpson, Woven Textile design, 1974
  • Percy Delf Smith, Lettering, 1940
  • Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon, Photography, 1986
  • Basil Spence, Exhibitions & interiors, 1960
  • Herbert Spencer, Typography, 1965
  • Harold Stabler, Pottery, Enamelling & silversmithing, 1936
  • Richard Stevens, Product design, 1973
  • Reynolds Stone, Lettering, 1956
  • Marianne Straub, Woven textiles, 1972
  • Derek Sugden, Engineering design, 2009
  • Fred Taylor, Graphics, 1936
  • Philip Thompson, Graphics & illustration, 1997
  • Walter Tracy, Type design, 1973
  • Howard Upjohn, Engineering product design, 1973
  • C F A Voysey, Interior decoration, furniture & fabrics, 1936
  • Barnes Wallis, Aircraft, 1943
  • Allan Walton, Printed textiles, 1940
  • Neville Ward, Interior design & ship interiors, 1971
  • John Waterer, Leather Goods, 1953
  • Hans Wegner, Furniture, 1969
  • Robert Welch, Product design & silversmithing, 1965
  • Frank Whittle, Engineering design, 1985
  • Berthold Wolpe, Typefaces & lettering, 1959
  • Anna Zinkeisen, Graphics & mural painting, 1940

Past Honorary RDIs

Past Honorary Royal Designers for Industry

  • Edward McKnight Kauffer, Commercial art, 1936
  • Alvar Aalto, General design, 1947
  • Franco Albini, Interiors, exhibitions & furniture, 1971
  • Gordon Andrews, General design, 1987
  • Saul Bass, Film & TV graphics, 1964
  • Herbert Bayer, Graphic design, 1984
  • Richard Buckminster Fuller, Architecture & design, 1980
  • Nanna Ditzel, Product design, 1996
  • Charles Eames, Furniture, exhibitions & interiors, 1960
  • Jean-Michel Folon, Illustration, 1981
  • André François, Graphics 1974
  • Shigeo Fukada, Graphic design, 1986
  • Alexander Girard, Interiors, exhibitions & furnishing textiles, 1965
  • Walter Gropius, General design, 1947
  • Edward Hald, Glass, 1939
  • Walter Herdeg, Graphic design, 1976
  • Christian Joachim, Pottery, 1939
  • CL 'Kelly' Johnson, Aircraft design, 1984
  • Finn Juhl, Furniture & interiors, 1978
  • Dora Jung, Woven textiles, 1979
  • Kaare Klint, Furniture, 1949
  • Takashi Kono, Graphics, 1983
  • Raymond Loewy, General design, 1939
  • Vico Magistretti, General design, 1992
  • Pierre Mendell, Graphic design, 1999
  • Bruno Mathsson, Furniture, 1978
  • Herbert Matter, Graphics & photography, 1982
  • Norman McLaren, Film Animation, 1986
  • Børge Mogensen, Furniture, 1972
  • Josef Muller-Brockmann, Graphic design, 1988
  • George Nelson, General design, 1973
  • Marcello Nizzoli, Typewriters & calculating machines, 1961
  • Antti Nurmesniemi, General design, 1986
  • Sigurd Persson, General design, 1987
  • Battista Farina, Motor cars, 1954
  • Paul Rand, Graphics, 1973
  • Steen Eiler Rasmussen, General design, 1947
  • Astrid Sampe, Textile design, 1949
  • WHJB Sandberg, Exhibition & museum display, typography, 1971
  • Timo Sarpaneva, Pottery & textiles, 1963
  • Carlo Scarpa, Exhibitions, interiors & museum design, 1969
  • Saul Steinberg, Illustration, 1980
  • Olin Stephens, Yacht design, 1975
  • Josef Svoboda, Theatre design, 1989
  • Ilmari Tapiovaara, Furniture, 1969
  • Walter Dorwin Teague, General design, 1951
  • Henryk Tomaszewski, Graphics, 1975
  • Roland Topor, Illustration, 1988
  • Jan Tschichold, Typography & book design, 1965
  • Dame Vivienne Westwood DBE, Fashion design, 2001
  • Tapio Wirkkala, Glass, wood & silver, 1964
  • Henry Wolf, Graphic design, 1990
  • Hermann Zapf, Type Design, 1985
  • Piet Zwart, Typography, 1966

References

References

  1. "Current Royal designers". [[Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce.
  2. "Current Honorary Royal Designers". RSA.
  3. "Past Royal Designers for Industry". RSA.
  4. Margot Coatts, ‘Mairet , Ethel Mary (1872–1952)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Oct 2007 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/39639, accessed 19 Oct 2015]
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