The scheme began in 1924 as the Competition of Industrial Design; this later became the Industrial Art Bursaries Competition (1946), the Design Bursaries Competition (1977), the Student Design Awards (1989/90), Design Directions (2003) and back to the Student Design AwardS in (2010). This is a project based award scheme for students of design which is judged by leaders in design and business. Its aims to bring promising students to the attention of the industry, to help students near the end of their education to sharpen their ability to contribute within a commercial setting, to influence design education by directing the attention of students to areas not necessarily covered in their course, and to give winning students the opportunity of industrial work experience or travel to further their design careers.\n\nIn addition to the travel and attachment awards given under each separate section of the competition, there were a number of special awards given to recognise winning students either for a particular feature of their winning entry, or some other criteria allied to the special award. These awards ran at different stages of the competition and each award ran for a different length of time. The special awards offered in a particular year were usually recorded in the project book and review/ report for that year. The winners of these awards were normally announced at a later date than the main competition results and therefore winners were only occasionally mentioned in the annual review/ report books. Where it is known that an additional award was won by a student, this is recorded on the individual's record. \n\nThese prizes included (this list is not complete):\n' Associateship of the RSA (winners of travel or attachment awards were also entitled to a year's free Fellowhsip of the RSA if they were over 25, and a year's free Associateship if they were under 25)\n' The Jacobs Memorial Award Certificate (for the student who submitted the best study tour report both in terms of content and presentation) \n' Alyson Leslie Award (this was first offered in 1992/93 and was awarded to the writer of the report which, in the view of Alyson Leslie, communicated to the reader most effectively how they used the award, what benefits they derived from it and how it would influence their future career)\n' Sir Frank Warner Memorial Medal (this medal commemorated the initiation of the original Competition of Industrial Design by Frank Warner. It was awarded for the best individual textile design. This medal was linked to the Sir Ernest Goodale Memorial Award) \n' Sir Ernest Goodale Memorial Award (this award was established by The Worshipful Company of Weavers in memory of Sir Ernest Goodale who was chairman of the RSA Design Committee. The award was given to the winner of the Sir Frank Memorial Medal to enable them to travel further afield)\n\n' The Whittington Award (this award was sponsored by the Mercers' Company and given to the entry that best demonstrated an understanding and appropriateness in their design on the theme, 'Design for Export')\n' The Master's Medal (this medal was presented by the Master of the RDI Faculty to the student who, in the opinion of the Master, solved the problem set out in any brief in the most practical, elegant and commercially viable manner)\n' The Chartered Society of Designers Student Medal (beginning in 1988/89, a silver medal was awarded to an outstanding student in each of the Chartered Society's design disciplines)\n' Wally Olins Opportunity Award (started in 2001/02 this award was for the student who most eloquently made a case for the use of the money to add value to the design business as a whole) \n' British Airways Flight Awards (a certain number of point to point flights within Europe were given to students who won travel awards)\n' The BIB Design Consultants Attachment and European Travel Award (the winner of this award was selected from short-listed students entering any of the industrial/ product design sections)\n' The BIB Travel Award to the United States (started in 1988/89, the winner of this award was selected from short-listed students entering any of the industrial/ product design sections who would most benefit from visiting the USA)\n' Deryck Healey International Colour Bursary Award (this was awarded to the student who demonstrated the impact of colour in a way which was exceptionally appropriate to consumer needs)\n' Formica Award (Formica Limited offered money for a well-planned study tour for the candidate who made the most appropriate and imaginative use of Formica Products in their solution to a project within the Student Design Awards)\n' The Kodak Photographic Award (this was given to students in specified sections of the competition who answered the brief in predominantly photographic terms.\n\n\nRecords include administrative files and correspondence, minutes of various committees, printed material including annual reports, publicity material and photographs of a small selection of winning designs.
The RSA also ran several competitions on behalf of other institutions etc.\nFiles contain general administrative correspondence and minutes of meetings relating to the individual. projects/bursaries.\nFiles relate to the administration of the scheme.
Correspondence and working papers relating to the funding of the Design Busaries Competition. Also correspondence about developing Anglo-American relations via the Design Management Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.
Correspondence relating to a joint venture between the Student Design Awards and the Design Council which aimed to incorporate Design Council strategies into the 1990's scheme. Includes minutes of a meeting held on 6 January 1992 between the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) the funding body, the Design Council and the RSA Steering Committee and a 'Report for DTI on RSA Student Design Awards 1991/92'.
Premiums for design for a drinking fountain offered by the Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association. The RSA assisted in the organisation of the competition. The object was to procure a design which was both attractive and practical. The competitors were asked to keep in mind certain considerations: the fountain was likely to be erected, free standing in a public park, open space or playground and should be capable of being carried out in natural stone but metal might be introduced in a suitable manner. The closing date of the competition was 31 July 1946 by which time 192 designs were received from 165 competitors. The assessors were Mr Oswarld P. Milne, Chairman of the RSA, Mr Keith Murray, Master of the Faculty of Royal Designers for Industry and Surgeon Vice-Admiral Sir Reginald Bond, Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association.\n\nThe file includes administrative correspondence, a pamphlet detailing the terms and conditions of the competition, and the assessors report.\n\n
In order to encourage artistic talent among the youth of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and to stimulate an interest in travel, a national poster competition was organised by the RSA and the Travel Association of Great Britain. The competition was initiated by the National Association of Girls' Clubs and Mixed Clubs. The closing date for the competition was 31 March 1947. \nThe subjects for design were an original travel poster to attract people to any particular locality in Great Britain and an original poster to advertise any forthcoming indoor or outdoor event or entertainment. \n\nThe file includes an original advert for the competition, an invitation to the Exhibition of winning designs, report on the competition, short report on the RSA's work for youth though out its history and administrative correspondence.
In November 1944 the Council of the RSA was invited by the Bishop of Columbo, as chairman of the Columbo New Cathedral Committee to act as the agent in London for his committee in organising a competition open to qualified members of the Royal Institute of British Architects or allied bodies, for a design for the projected new Anglican Cathedral in Columbo. The Council agreed to sponsor the competition and arranged that it should be administered by the Committee of the Dominions and Colonies Section, under the Chairmanship of Sir Harry Lindsay. The choice of Sir Giles Gilbert Scott as Assessor had been arranged with the Royal Institute of British Architects.\n\nAmong the correspondence is the conditions of the competition, names and addresses of competitors, administrative correspondence, the Assessors final report and site plans of the cathedral.
The RSA conducted a competition for the design of a painted wall panel to be executed for the main Entrance Hall of the Office Block in the National Cash Register Company's new building in Kingsway West, Dundee, Scotland. The subject of the panel being a Scottish Scene.\n\nAmong the administrative correspondence are details of the competition, plans of the building, the assessors report and names of the winners.
The series of Design competitions were held annually from 1937 to 1941 for the award of scholarships and studentships were temporarily discontinued (beginning again in 1947) because so many of the potential candidates had joined the forces or had otherwise been clained for war work and therefore unable to compete. To preserve the Society's active promotion of the cause this essay Competition scheme was suggested.\n\nThe first competition was open to members of H.M. Forces of either sex (excluding the Home Guard) and the Merchant Navy. The closing date of this competition was 1 August 1943. \n\nThe second competition was open to officers and ratings of the Women's Royal Navy Service at home and overseas. A Committee consisting of First Officer Cheetham of the Education Department, W.R.N.S, Dr. R. W. Holland and the acting secretary, under the chairmanship of Sir Edward Crowe, was set up by the Council to draft the rules and regulations. This Committee appointed Mr G.K. Menzies, late Secretary of the Society and occasional Examiner in Engligh to the Civil Service Commission. The competition closed on 15th September 1944 for home competitors and 31 December 1944 for overseas competitors. \n\nThe file contain records from both competitions including an original advertisement for the first, reports for both and administrative correspondence for the second.\n
The RSA in conjunction with the Festival of Britain authorities erected nine flagstaffs, flying the Union Jack in Hyde Park to mark the original site of Crystal Palace. The flags were to be unfurled at noon on 3 May at the moment when His Majesty the King declared the Festival of Britain open.\nThe flags and staffs were supplied by Messers. Benjamin Edgington and Messers John Edgington respectively who were responsible for them on the original Crystal Palace in 1851. \nAdministrative correspondence.
The Council for Industrial Design planned to continue Design Review which grew out of the 1951 Festival of Britain Stock list. In order to give Design Review greater prestige the Council were keen to have it associated with the RSA though the Society instituting medals for products of outstanding merit from several of the industries which have submitted during the year to Design Review.\n\nAdministrative correspondence.\n
In 1973 the Burton Group introduced a series of awards which were designed to examine and improve the effectiveness of the designer's role in industry. These awards were administered variously by the RSA, the Design Council, The Royal College of Arts and the Society of industrial Artists and Designers with funds provided by the Burton Group.\n\nPart 1: The Burton Group Design Award Report for the Royal Society of Arts. \n ''The Needs of the Manufacturing Sector in their Expectations of Industrial\n Designers' by John Collins, June 1978\n\nPart 2: Burton Award project 1978-1979 was administered by the RSA in conjunction\n with the University of Bath. Research was undertaken by Jay Doblin and\n focussed on what should be done to improve the standard of buying and thereby\n design, particularly in education and training. Administrative correspondence.\n
Administrative correspondence.
The RSA runs a medical equipment design award scheme in association with the British Surgical Trades Association in which £5,000 Research and Development Grants will be available. Each award provides a nine month research and Development Grant for final year degree or diploma students and postgraduates working in the field of design.\n\nAdministrative correspondence.
The Photographic section was an addition to the Design Bursaries in 1980/81. The award was given specifically for colour and was offered at a considerably increased value. The competition was sponsored by Kodak.\n\nAdministrative correspondence which includes a report on the 1980/81 candidates.
Correspondence and Minutes of meetings held between the RSA, the Design Council and the British Council. Includes an Executive summary of the scoping project presented to the British Council, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Design Council, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Royal Society of Arts by AEA Management Consultants
Established in 1985, the aim of the Young Designers into Industry scheme was to match the skills of top young designers with the needs of British industry. The scheme results from an initiative announced by John Butcher as part of the government's Strategy for Design launched in 1984. Through it, newly qualified designers are awarded 12 month assisted placements in selected industrial companies. The administration of the scheme was undertaken by the RSA while it was funded jointly by the Department of Trade and Industry and the industrial companies involved. \n\nAdministrative correspondence, minutes, progress reports and press releases.
Administrative correspondence and papers relating to the Industrial Art Bursaries Competition includes and a breakdown of age groups of bursary winners in the 18 competitions held since 1946, an analysis of the competitions 1951-1967 and the opening speech given by Sir Gordon Russell of the Exhibition of Winning Designs in the 1964 Industrial Art Bursaries Competition.
The British Museum and the RSA established the award to encourage the improvement of design in museums and equipment in them and to encourage young designers to concentrate on such problems.\n\nCorrespondence and working papers relating to the establishment of the award. Includes design briefs for 1977 and 1983.
Clean technologies lecture and Centre for sustainable design and Surrey Institute proposal to Canon UK about the development of the 'Sustainable World' theme within the RSA Student Design Awards.