The faculty demonstrates the diverse impact of design in shaping our world.
Explore the profiles of current and past RDIs to understand their work.
Television + Theatre
1972
Illustration
1974
Product
2009
Dress
1964
Illustration
1974
Illustration
1980
Motor Yachts
1978
Transport Equipment
1948
Graphics
1949
Silversmithing
1971
Graphic Design
1983
Exhibitions + Interiors
1957
Film
1992
Photography
1978
Bridges
1977
Theatre
2013
Product
1981
Exhibitions + Interiors
1961
Interaction
2011
General
1937
Furniture
1971
Product Design
1974
Exhibitions
1961
Product
1974
Automotive
1979
General
1944
Bookbinding
1936
Engineering
1987
General Design
2010
Pottery
1940
Textiles
1986
Illustration + Townscape
1975
Textiles
1962
Furniture + Exhibitions
1959
TV + Theatre Design
1975
Posters
1963
Production
2012
Graphics + Publicity
1972
Graphic Design
1974
Photo of  Colin Forbes

Colin Forbes was born in London in 1928. He graduated from the Central School of Arts and Crafts, London, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. After graduating, Forbes returned to the Central School to become Head of Graphic Design. By 1960 he had left teaching, and two years later, formed Fletcher/Forbes/Gill with Alan Fletcher and Bob Gill. In 1972 the firm Pentagram originated, when Colin joined with two fellow graphic designers, Alan Fletcher and Mervyn Kurlansky, along with architect Theo Crosby and product designer Kenneth Grange. Pentagram’s unique partner structure still flourishes to this day. Colin was a 1991 recipient of the AIGA medal; awarded the Silver medal Biennale International Art Book Prize, Israel in 1975; and the President award for the Designers and Art Directors Association, London in 1977. He was Chairman of the Stanford Design Forum, Stanford University in 1988. Colin has written several books on design.

Photo of  Colin Forbes
Advertisement announcing pre-cut wrapped building boards, 1962
Advertisement announcing pre-cut wrapped building boards
1962
Cover design for Plastics Today, 1970
Cover design for Plastics Today
1970
Logo for Nissan. Type design by Matthew Carter, 1982
Logo for Nissan. Type design by Matthew Carter
1982
Credits from left to right
© 1972 – 2020 Pentagram
Engineering Design
2008
Small Boats
1955
Graphics
1949
Stage + Film
1949
Posters
1959
Exhibitons
1947
Typography + Wood Engraving
1936
General
1947
General Design
1969
Printed Textiles
1941
Packaging
1937
Furniture + Interiors
1972
Shop Window Display
1940
Textiles
1964
Engineering
1983
Graphics
1947
Engineering
1976
Furniture
1939
Packaging + Graphics
1959
Theatre + Cinema
1971
Furniture
1963
Graphics
1977
Glass + Stained Glass
1936
Illustration
1979
Transport Equipment
1943
Products + Industrial
1961
Ceramics + Glass
1981
Typographic + Newspaper
1970
Exhibitions + Museum
1964
Product
2004
Motor Cars
1964
Product Design
2000
Theatre
1984
Shop Display + Television
1966
Books + Illustration
1974
TV Graphics
1987
Illustration
1979
Television
1971
Product
1995
Engineering Product
1973
Motor Cars
1954
Book Design
1973
Woven Textiles
1937
Photography
1997
Pattern
1944
Printing
1936
Engineering Design
1989
Naval Architecture
1986
Silver, Cutlery + Lighting
1962
Medals + Coinage
1937
Typography
1940
Product
1988
Typography
1960
Textiles
1960
Engineering Product
1968
Small Craft Naval
1995
Dress
1972
Goldsmithing
1936
Glass, Pottery + Silver
1936
Theatre Design
1991
Interiors
1939
Theatre + Film
1977
Road Passenger Vehicles
1949
Furniture
2009
Costume Design
1999
Engineering
1982
Boats + Small Crafts
1969
Commercial Art
1936
Dress Design
1969
Furniture
1953
Jewellery
1999
Engineering Design
1994
Light Fittings
1940
Architecture
2014
Engineering
1977
Furniture
1944
Furniture
1940
Exhibiton Display + Packaging
1959
Typography
1976
Industrial
1974
Illustration
1991
Interior Decoration + Textiles
1936
Woven Textiles
1974
Lettering
1940
Exhibitions + Interiors
1960
Typography
1965
Pottery, Enamelling + Silversmithing
1936
Product
1973
Lettering
1956
Woven Textiles
1972
Engineering
2009
Graphics
1936
Graphics
1997
Engineering Product
1973
Interior Decoration, Furniture + Fabrics
1936
Film + TV Design
1989
Aircraft
1943
Printed Textiles
1940
Interior + Ships
1971
Leather Goods
1953
Product + Silversmithing
1965
Fashion Design
2001
Engineering
1995
Engineering
1985
Typefaces + Lettering
1959
Graphics + Mural Painting
1940
Back to top