Adam Smith will shortly be replaced on the back of the £20 note, but which designer would you follow him with?
The next £20 note is set to celebrate Britain’s achievements in ‘the visual arts’, and the Bank of England is wanting the dear public to nominate who it would like to feature on the back of the note.
The definition the Bank of England is throwing up for ‘visual artists’ includes architects, artists, ceramicists, craftspeople, designers, fashion designers, filmmakers, photographers, printmakers and sculptors.
That’s right – DESIGNERS – however, scrap your fanboyish dreams of Sir Jony Ive sitting face pressed up against your right arse cheek in your back skyrocket. The Bank will not feature fictional or living characters, with the exception of the Queen, who appears on the front of the notes.
It’s a tough choice, and unless a crazed member of the Design Museum goes off on a killing spree between now and the final nomination date of 19 July, we sadly doubt Joe Public will be siding with the lowly profession of a product designer.
Still, head here if you want to nominate – and make sure you let us know who you chose for the honour!
Some ideas:
Malcolm Sayer (1916–1970)
An aircraft and car designer. His most notable work being the E-Type Jaguar and Jaguar XJS, he was one of the first engineers to apply principles of aircraft design to cars.
Douglas Scott (1913 – 1990) and Colin Curtis (1926 – 2012)
Designers of the Routemaster Bus – once a symbol of London to visitors from all over the world now only a few chug along the heritage routes, but a direct influence on the latest incarnation.
Ernest Race (1913 – 1964)
An English textile and furniture designer, best-known known for the BA3 aluminium chair and the Antelope – The BA3 won a Gold Medal at the 10th Milan Trienale in 1954, where the Antelope also won silver. He was made a Royal Designer in 1953.
Sir Frank Whittle (1907 – 1996)
An English Royal Air Force engineer air officer he is credited with single-handedly inventing the turbojet engine, among other aerospace designs.
Sir Alec Issigonis (1906 – 1988)
A Greek (with British passport) designer of cars, widely noted for the groundbreaking and influential development of the Mini.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=Pndc-SekcRc
For more fun, have a look at the selection process:
