The Royal Designers for Industry
What is an RDI?
The title 'Royal Designer for Industry' (RDI) was introduced by the RSA in 1936 to honour designers of excellence and promote the important contribution of design in manufacturing and industry.
The RDI award that began as a means by which to enhance the status of designers today remains the highest accolade for designers in the UK and is conferred to those who have shown sustained design excellence, work of aesthetic value and significant benefit to society. Only 200 designers may hold the title at any time.
Royal Designers contribute to the RSA's design activity, notably through their involvement in the Design Directions student award scheme, and other projects such as the RSA Tipton Academy.
Since it was introduced, recipients of the honour have included Eric Gill, Gordon Russell, Barnes Wallis, Jonathan Ive, Vivienne Westwood, and Marc Newson. Royal Designers are responsible for designing the Millennium Bridge, the iPod, the Rolls-Royce jet engine, the Harry Potter film sets and the miniskirt among other things.
Outside the UK, a limited number of designers are given the award of Honorary Royal Designer for Industry (HonRDI). These include Dieter Rams, Milton Glaser, and Yohji Yamamoto.
The Faculty was formed as the association of Royal Designers for Industry. Its membership is a prestigious 'Who's Who' of leading-edge designers of all disciplines including engineering, graphics and interaction, product and furniture, fashion and textiles, and theatre and film design.
Who are the Royal Designers and Honorary Royal Designers?
There are currently 136 RDIs and 54 Honorary RDIs spanning a diverse range of design fields.
Royal Designers in 2011
Current Royal Designers
Current Honorary Royal Designers
Past Royal Designers
Past Honorary Royal Designers
2011 marks the 75th anniversary of the RDI. The RSA and the Royal Designers are celebrating this by working on a project together called 75 Days.
Royal Designers are invited to give a day or more of their expertise to the RSA. Collectively – 75 days will be given to a variety of projects and other opportunities for example; giving inspirational talks and workshops at the RSA Academy, giving graduates some work experience at their studios, or advising RSA Fellows’ on the development of their projects
Royal Designers who sign up to the project will be introduced to RSA staff or Fellows who will benefit from their collaboration.
The RSA’s Design & Society programme argues that that the insights and processes of design can increase the resourcefulness of people and communities and has a vital role to play today in making society itself more resourceful.
For further information please contact Melanie Andrews, RDI Project Manager at melanie.andrews@rsa.org.uk
RDInsights
RDInsights is a monthly podcast series of engaging and informal interviews conducted by Mike Dempsey RDI with fellow Royal Designers.
Listen to the latest interview with graphic designer Michael Wolff who became an RDI in 2011.
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