The Charts 2010

For most disciplines we have compiled a Top Ten chart of awards winners, given the number of awards we cover. This expands on the Top Five groups previously listed in each specialism chart.

The exception though are the 3D categories: interiors and exhibition design, and product design. There are fewer awards schemes open to designers in these areas – and so fewer points available – and we have therefore ranked only the top five for both of these disciplines.

The success story here is architect Muma, which has boosted its standing to top the specialist charts largely because of its D&AD Yellow Pencil for the design of the Victoria & Albert Museum’s Medieval & Renaissance Galleries.

The big shift, meanwhile, is the departure of Sketch and Thomas Heatherwick Studio from the charts to make way for Pentagram and Jason Bruges Studio. We might expect Thomas Heatherwick’s team to make a comeback next year, though, because of its outstanding British Pavilion for the Shanghai Expo.

Both Fitch and Virgin Atlantic Airways have dropped points year-on-year because our tally is based on three years of awards wins.

Apple Design Group continues to reign supreme in the product design stakes, with wins in major awards almost guaranteed for annual additions to its portfolio.

And while rival Nokia makes it into the Top Five this year, it has a long way to go before it can seriously challenge Apple on points scored.

Pearson Lloyd and Seymour Powell enter the Top Five this year, on the strength of furniture design and product respectively. Meanwhile, Virgin Atlantic Airways, which collaborated with Pearson Lloyd on the award-winning Upper Class Seat, remains among the Top Five, but with its points halved, having had no awards wins this year. It will be interesting to see how it fares in future with the search on for a new candidate to step into the role so admirably filled by former head of design Joe Ferry.

Click here to view PDFs

Start the discussionStart the discussion
  • Post a comment

Latest articles