2011 Prince Philip Designers Prize

Quentin Blake one of Britain's best loved illustrators won the 2011 Prince Philip Designers Prize.

Quentin Blake illustrated certificate for Prince PhilipThis is the final year that HRH The Duke of Edinburgh will deliver the Prize. Having headed up the judging panel and presented the Prize since its inception in 1959, he will be stepping down from the Prize as he reduces his work-load and royal responsibilities in his 90th year. David Kester, Chief Executive of the Design Council, commented: “No-one can be in any doubt of the extraordinary dedication to promoting and celebrating design which has been shown by His Royal Highness during more than half a century of expert and insightful leadership of the Prince Philip Designers Prize. This year’s winner and nominees likewise demonstrate a dedication to creative excellence, but they are also exemplars of the international commercial success which springs from that creativity. Now more than ever, we must celebrate our world-leading designers, innovators and creatives, and their vital contribution to our economic future.”

The shortlist for the 2011 prize encompassed one of the widest ranges of design disciplines in the Prize’s history, from museums and gallery designers to millinery for Kylie Minogue and hydraulic ankles. Sir Paul Smith and milliner Stephen Jones joined the line-up, whilst architecture was also well represented with internationally respected names such as Wilkinson Eyre and Sir David Chipperfield being nominated for their huge contribution, alongside giants of digital, sustainable and strategic design.

Quentin Blake CBE, RDI, FCSD

Quentin Blake portrait

Quentin Blake is one of Britain’s best-loved illustrators. His work in more than 300 books – many his own - is instantly recognisable. He’s perhaps best known for his illustrations of Roald Dahl’s books, but his distinctive pen, ink and watercolour drawings have also accompanied the work of many other children’s authors like Michael Rosen and Joan Aiken. And he has illustrated Dickens, Carroll and Lear as well as originating his own characters including Mister Magnolia, Mrs Armitage and Clown.

Tim Brown

Tim Brown

Tim Brown is the leading pioneer of ‘design thinking’ and the CEO of global design and innovation firm IDEO.

Dinah Casson RDI, FRCA, FCSD

Dinah Casson

Dinah Casson is one of the world’s most respected environmental and exhibition designers. Over more than 25 years, her work as co-founder of Casson Mann has transformed museums in the UK into modern and accessible places. They include the V&A, Natural History Museum, Science Museum and the Imperial War Museum. Regional museums like Manchester Art Gallery and Great North Museum Newcastle have benefited too, along with others in the US, Italy and UAE.

Sir David Chipperfield CBE RDI

Sir David Chipperfield CBE RDI

Sir David Chipperfield is one of the UK’s best-known and most distinguished architects. He founded his own practice in 1984 and it now has offices in London, Berlin and Milan, employing 250 staff in 15 countries. It’s also won more than 50 national and international competitions. This year he has won the Royal Gold Medal from RIBA and the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture for his rebuilding of Berlin’s Neues Museum.

Stephen Jones OBE RDI

Stephen Jones portrait

Stephen Jones has transformed millenary since he opened his first hat salon in 1980. Among those who trained in his workrooms are Philip Treacy and Noel Stewart.

Sir Paul Smith

Paul Smith portrait

Sir Paul Smith is arguably the most successful British fashion designer ever. Since opening his first shop in Nottingham in 1970 he has built an international business that has defined the way three generations of men – and latterly women - have dressed.

Shane Walter

Shane Walter

Shane Walter is the co-founder of onedotzero, which since 1996 has been at the forefront of digital design and culture. Working in multiple disciplines, onedotzero reaches 65 cities and 250,000 people around the world with a combination of festivals, public events and publishing projects, as well as an education programme for emerging talent. It brings together interactive, web, graphics, gaming, illustration, fashion, club visuals, street art, installations, architecture and more.

Chris Wilkinson OBE and Jim Eyre OBE

Chris Wilkinson OBE and Jim Eyre OBE

Chris Wilkinson and Jim Eyre are co-founders of Wilkinson Eyre Architects, the first practice to win the Stirling Prize twice and the only one to win it two years in a row. The first win was for Magna, the Science Exploration Centre in Rotherham, and the second was for the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, which connected Newcastle and Gateshead and acted as a focal point for regeneration in the area.

Saeed Zahedi OBE

Saeed Zahedi

Saeed Zahedi is among the leading designers of prosthetics. As Technical Director of Chas A Baltchford & Sons, he’s been at the forefront of breakthroughs which make life better for amputees.

Cecil Balmond

Cecil Balmond

Cecil Balmond is hailed as one of the greatest structural engineers and one of the most provocative and daring designers. His work as a designer, engineer and artist ranges from bridges and sculptures to the Victoria & Albert Museum extension. It includes some of the world’s most famous structures, including the Centre Pompidou-Metz, the CCTV Tower in Beijing and the Ito-Balmond Serpentine Pavillion in London.