Red phone box voted “greatest British design”

In a survey conducted by Kingston University’s Professor Catherine McDermott, the red phone box was voted above other designs including the Routemaster Double-Decker Bus, the Tube Map, the London Eye and the London 2012 Olympic Torch.

By Angus Montgomery March 16, 2015 3:33 pm March 16, 2015 3:33 pm

Image by flickr user Pat Dalton

The K series red phone box has been voted as the greatest British design of all time in a new poll.

The survey was conducted by Professor Catherine McDermott, director of curating contemporary design at Kingston University. It was commissioned by Samsung to mark the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S6.

The K Series phone box saw off other British designs including the Routemaster Double-Decker Bus, the Tube Map, the London Eye and the London 2012 Olympic Torch.

Some 2,000 people were surveyed and asked about their favourite designs from a longlist of 25 projects put together by Professor McDermott and a panel of judges.

The red phone box was a clear winner, with 39 per cent of those polled selecting it as a Great British design, ahead of the Routemaster Double Decker Bus, which was chosen by 28 per cent, and the Union Flag, which was chosen by 24 per cent.

The K Series of red phone boxes was introduced by the Post Office in 1920. The K2, K3 and K6 models – which are probably the most recognisable models – were designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott and introduced between 1926 and 1935.

Several hundred thousand phone boxes were installed around the UK from the 1920s onwards and it is estimated that 11,000 traditional red phone boxes remain in service.

The survey also showed that 77 per cent of those polled feel that the UK is still producing great home-grown designs, while 69 per cent say that designs “made them proud to be British”.

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