Celebrating excellence in design: New Royal Designers for Industry announcement

What is the RDI award?

The RDI award is considered the highest accolade for designers in the UK and is held by only 200 people at any time. This prestigious title is awarded every year by a panel of design leaders overseen by the RSA.

Who are the new Royal Designers for Industry?

This year, we’re delighted to announce the appointment of three extraordinary creatives as Royal Designers for Industry. This year’s entrants are Oscar-winning film production designer, Shona Heath; landscape designer, Tom Stuart-Smith; and urban Designer, Lucy Musgrave. They join a roster of internationally renowned creatives including architect Norman Foster, fashion designer Zandra Rhodes, and inventor of the World Wide Web Tim Berners-Lee.

Honorary Royal Designers for Industry

This year, the RSA also recognised international design pioneers by awarding four Honorary RDI titles. These include graphic designer Michael Bierut, set and costume designer Michael Levine, regenerative designer Julia Lohmann, and carnival costume designer Clary Salandy. Their work exemplifies how design transcends borders, enriching communities worldwide.

Why do the RDI awards matter?

The significance of this year’s Royal Designers for Industry awards goes beyond individual achievements, highlighting the profound role design plays in shaping our daily lives. Charlie Paton RDI, Master of the Faculty at The Association of Royal Designers for Industry, emphasised this, stating:

“This year’s awards demonstrate the important role of design in shaping the world around us. With the new RDIs work spanning graphic, regenerative, set and costume, urban, film, landscape and carnival design, we are reminded that the practice underpins every interaction we have with the human-made world.”

Joanna Choukeir, Head of Design and Innovation at the RSA, underscored the evolution of design and its growing recognition as a critical force for progress. She remarked:

“The RDIs were introduced when design was widely undervalued and misunderstood, both as a profession and as a tool to boost economic, social and environmental progress. Now, the RDIs reflect the centrality of design in shaping the world around us.” Her statement highlights how design has moved from the periphery to the core of innovation, driving meaningful change across industries and communities.”

Meet the 2024 RDIs

Shona Heath – Film Production Design

From magazine editorials to Oscar-winning films, Shona Heath’s vivid imagination has touched a range of creative spheres. Known for her collaboration with photographer Tim Walker and her designs for McQueen and Mulberry, Heath reached a career pinnacle with her work on Poor Things, which earned her a BAFTA and an Academy Award. Reflecting on this honour, Shona shared with us that receiving this award “makes me feel like all my hard work over the years is seen and that people have recognised my handwriting through all the many projects I have been part of. I am always a wheel or a cog, but this makes me feel like I am driving.” 

Lucy Musgrave – Urban Design

As the founding director of Publica, Lucy Musgrave OBE has championed the creation of inclusive, sustainable, and dignified public spaces. Her expertise has influenced urban transformations in London and beyond, rooted in research-driven design that prioritises community needs. Musgrave expressed her gratitude, saying: “Enormous thanks to the RSA for recognising urban design with civic amenity at its heart. Good urban design requires many hands, disciplines and collaboration to address the varied perspectives on any urban neighbourhood.”

Tom Stuart-Smith – Landscape and Garden Design

A prolific garden designer and author, Tom Stuart-Smith has shaped spaces from the Chelsea Flower Show to the V&A and beyond. His ethos combines local materials, enduring plant selections, and sustainable practices, contributing to a greener, healthier world. Tom Stuart-Smith expressed his gratitude and pride in being recognised as a Royal Designer for Industry, noting the significance of this milestone not just for himself but for the field of landscape design. He shared: “It’s a great honour to receive this award, not least when I look and see the illustrious list of other designers who I join. I think I am the third landscape designer elected as an RDI and I feel this reflects the growing importance of my profession in creating a greener, healthier and more sustainable world for everyone.”

The 2024 RDI address

This year, the RDI address was delivered by multi-award-winning landscape designer and new RDI Inductee Tom Stuart-Smith. It was hosted at the historic RSA House in the heart of London and streamed online. Tom explored the intersection of landscape design and mental wellbeing, offering insights into how thoughtful design can encourage a more sustainable world.

As the RSA celebrates these inspiring and dynamic designers, the message is clear: design is not just an aesthetic pursuit; it is a catalyst for change, innovation, and connection.

You can watch the whole address below.