About this online exhibition

This online exhibition introduces a project to document and evaluate the early history of Design Research in the UK, focusing on the Department of Design Research and its predecessors at the Royal College of Art, London.

The exhibits illustrate a number of themes, many of them concerned with the varied roles of the leader of the Department, Professor L Bruce Archer. They are organised around a series of images, highlighting important themes, and not necessarily presented in chronological order.

The exhibition has been put together by Stephen Boyd Davis, Professor of Design Research at the RCA, and Dr. Simone Gristwood of Middlesex and Lancaster universities.  They are grateful to Neil Parkinson, archivist at the RCA and many other individuals too numerous to name.

Currently in its early stages, the project is seeking funding to develop a deeper research inquiry.  Many individuals have been approached to share their insights and evidence and have kindly agreed. If you are knowledgeable about the early days of Design Research, especially at the RCA, or want to offer a perspective on the subject, please get in touch with Stephen.

Who is in the photo?

According to Ken Baynes (1967:52) everyone in the photo is connected with the famous Hospital Bed project:

This photograph, showing the staff of the research unit who worked on the development of the Royal College of Art hospital bedstead, is a graphic demonstration of the fact that many major pieces of design depend on teamwork. It is worth recording just who the people involved are and what they do. On the extreme left is Gillian Patterson, information research assistant, a graduate research librarian. Next to her, at the back, is Reg Talbot, an ergonomist and systems analyst who was responsible for planning the validation studies. Third from the left, right in front, is Kenneth Agnew, industrial designer, research fellow at the Royal College of Art, and Mr Archer’s principal assistant. Fourth from the left, right at the back, is Tony Driver, College staff sheet metal craftsman. Next from the left, in the middle row, is Doreen Norton, a nursing sister with a fine research record behind her, and nursing adviser to the Unit. Right at the back is Pauline Benington, secretary and office manager to the research Unit. Next to her is Ken Ireland, College staff machine shop craftsman. Right in the very middle is Irfon Roberts, secretary of the Working Party to whom the Unit reports and also a deputy director of the Hospital Centre, who are the project’s sponsors. Behind him is Ed Walden, mechanical draughtsman. In front, with arms folded, is Bruce Archer, director of the Unit. Fourth from the right, Peter Slann, aeronautical engineer responsible for structural analysis and advice. Third from the right is Gordon Cork, welder on the staff of the Unit. Second on the right is Eleanor Piclet, Mr Archer’s private secretary, and on the extreme right is Charles Denroche, a builder of experimental metal work, who developed and made some of the mechanisms. Not shown, of course, are the very large number of doctors, nurses and research workers in other establishments who gave information and advice. 

See also

For more on the Kings Fund Hospital Bed, see HOW TO MAKE A BED: THE KING'S FUND HOSPITAL BED PROJECT

Baynes, Ken. 1967. Industrial Design & the Community. London: Lund Humphries.