Prince Philip Designer’s Award for Gentleman

The designer responsible for gradually transforming the way the Queen appears on our stamps has been given a royal accolade for his outstanding life-long contribution to design in the UK.

David Gentleman was presented with the Design Council-organised Prince Philip Designer’s Award by the Duke of Edinburgh at a ceremony held at The Sage in Gateshead last Thursday, to coincide with the Designs of the Time 07 festival.

The award recognises Gentleman’s multifaceted 50-year career, in which he has devoted his talents in painting, drawing and lithography to the creation of accessible and durable designs.

He is, however, perhaps best known as a prolific stamp designer, having created more than 100 published stamps since 1963.

David Kester, chief executive of the Design Council, says, ‘The lives of most of us have been touched by David’s work – from his many stamp designs, in which he gradually transformed the way the Queen appears, to his timeless corporate logos.

Special commendations were awarded to iPod designer Jonathan Ive and bathroom designer Robin Levien.