Congratulations to Professor Michael Twyman and the Sorrell Foundation, both of whom receive awards for their contribution to design education at a ceremony at the RCA today.
Professor Michael Twyman will receive the prestigious Sir Misha Black Medal for Distinguished Services to Design Education at a ceremony at the RCA later today. Established in 1978 by the RCA, the Faculty of Royal Designers for Industry (RDI), the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Design & Industries Association (DIA) and the College of Medallists, the award commemorates the life of Sir Misha Black, co-founder of the Design Research Unit and the RCA’s first professor of industrial design, who played a crucial role in promoting design in post-war Britain. The award is unique as it recognises individuals or organisations who have made a significant contribution to design education – previous recipients have included Max Bill, Ettore Sottsass and Reyner Banham.
Professor Twyman has a longstanding association with Reading University, where in 1968 he established a graphic design course which combined practical work with an academic approach. In 1974, Twyman opened the world renowned Department of Typography & Graphic Communication, a course which continues to attract students seeking a rigorous mix of practice, theory and history. Twyman has also overseen the establishment of many important design archives at the university, including the Isotype Archive and Rickards Collection of Ephemera.
The Sorrrell Foundation will receive the Sir Misha Black Award for Innovation in Design Education (established in 1999) for its National Art & Design Saturday Club, an initiative which provides free art classes to young people aged 16-18. Taking inspiration from the Saturday morning art classes which ran from the 1950s-70s, the classes (which have over 1,000 Club Members from 270 local schools and currently run in thirty-two colleges and universities and at the V&A), have inspired thousands of young people to take up careers in the creative industries.
mishablackawards.org.uk/