Mark Major said he was looking forward to working with the Royal Society of Arts to promote the importance of good public lighting
The Royal Society of Arts has announced that Mark Major and Jonathan Speirs are two of twelve top designers who have been made Royal Designers for Industry ‘for their innovative use of light to create public space’. Mark Major collected his award at a special ceremony at the Royal Society of Arts on 14th November. Jonathan’s award, which was made posthumously following his death in June of this year, was collected by his wife Elizabeth Speirs on his behalf.
Mark and Jonathan will be the first architectural lighting practitioners to receive this recognition, which is regarded as one of the most prestigious honours a designer can achieve in the UK.
In accepting the award, Mark Major made reference to the benefit of this recognition to the lighting design profession as a whole, saying, “I am delighted and honoured to have been made a Royal Designer for Industry. Even more so that my late partner, Jonathan Speirs, has also been recognised in this way. Both of us strived hard over many years to improve the quality of light for people within the built environment. It is therefore a real achievement for our work to be recognised in this way. I am looking forward to working with the Royal Society of Arts to help promote the importance of good public lighting and in particular to improve general education about the need to develop a truly sustainable approach to lighting development.”
Other RDI’s being created this year include the musician Brian Eno, landscape designers Andrew Grant and Dan Pearson, production designer Mark Fisher OBE, TV and film lighting designer Charlie Paton and architect Sarah Wigglesworth. Honorary RDI’s are interaction designer Bob Greenberg, interaction designer Tom Roope, video games designer Toshio Iwai and architect Peter Zumthor.
Commenting on the RDI’s RSA Chief Executive Matthew Taylor said: “The RSA has vigorously championed design excellence since its foundation when the design profession was in its infancy. We remain committed to encouraging and recognising outstanding designers who strive to make the world a better place. The work of these twelve fantastic practitioners has made a significant benefit to society and I’m delighted to welcome them into the faculty.”
There are now 140 RDIs and 61 Honorary RDIs. Members of the Faculty include Terence Conran, Jonathan Ive, James Dyson, Vivienne Westwood, and Thomas Heatherwick.
