RDInsights

RDInsights is a series of lively and informal interviews conducted by graphic designer Mike Dempsey RDI with fellow Royal Designers. These memorable conversations and inspiring stories span a wide range of design disciplines.

John Pawson

John Pawson has dedicated his career to creating minimalist spaces that eliminate the unnecessary. With his passionate attention to detail and materials, he has become known for his signature style, which has brought him global fame.

Geoffrey Kirk

Mike Dempsey RDI in conversation with the aeronautics designer engineer Geoffrey Kirk RDI. During his long career at the Rolls-Royce Airline Business, he rose to the position of Chief Design Engineer and worked on the designs of many of the company's iconic jet engines.

Interviews

John Pawson
Architectural designer John Pawson became an RDI 2005.
Listen to the interview

Geoffrey Kirk
Engineering Designer Geoffrey Kirk became an RDI in 2001.
Listen to the interview

John McConnell
Graphic Designer John McConnell became an RDI in 1987.
Listen to the interview

Mike Dempsey
Graphic Designer Mike Dempsey became an RDI in 1994.
Listen to the interview

Jenny Beaven
Costume designer Jenny Beavan became an RDI in 2022.
Listen to the interview

Steven Appleby
Cartoonist Steven Appleby became an RDI in 2021.
Listen to the interview

Marina Willer
Graphic Designer Marina Willer became an RDI in 2021.
Listen to the interview

Charlie Paton
Design Engineer Charlie Paton became an RDI in 2012.
Listen to the interview

Simon Esterson
Graphic designer Simon Esterson became an RDI in 2001.
Listen to the interview

Seymour Chwast
Graphic designer Seymour Chwast became an Honorary RDI in 2005.
Listen to the interview

Jenny Frean
Textile designer Jenny Frean became an RDI in 1998.
Listen to the interview

Tom Lloyd
Product designer Tom Lloyd became an RDI in 2021.
Listen to the interview

Marion Deuchars
Illustrator and author Marion Deuchars became an RDI in 2021.
Listen to the interview

Paule Constable
Lighting designer Paule Constable became an RDI in 2019.
Listen to the interview.

Tom Gauld
Author and cartoonist Tom Gauld became an RDI in 2019.
Listen to the interview.

Ben Terrett
Ben Terrett is a Service designer and became an RDI in 2018.
Listen to the interview.

Morag Myerscough
Communication designer and founder of Studio Myerscough.
Listen to the interview.

Sir Christopher Frayling
British educationalist, writer, film-maker, researcher and advocator of the Arts. 
Listen to the interview.

Kim Colin RDI
Architect and product designer Kim Colin became an RDI in 2015.
Listen to the interview.

Derek Birdsall RDI
Graphic Designer Derek BirdSall became an RDI in 1993.
Listen to the interview.

Alison Brooks RDI
Architect Alison Brooks became an RDI in 2017.
Listen to the interview
 

Tristram Carfrae RDI
Structural engineer Tristam Carfrae became an RDI in 2006.
Listen to the interview

Patrick Woodroffe OBE RDI
Lighting designer Patrick Woodroffe became an RDI in 2013.
Listen to the interview

Sandy Powell RDI
Costume designer Sandy Powell became an RDI in 2013.
Listen to the interview

Ben Kelly RDI
Interior designer Ben Kelly became an RDI in 2007.
Listen to the interview

Margaret Calvert RDI
Graphic designer Margaret Calvert became an RDI in 2011.
Listen to the interview

Dan Pearson RDI
Landscape designer Dan Pearson became an RDI in 2012.
Listen to the interview

Mark Major RDI
Lighting designer Mark Major became an RDI in 2012.
Listen to the interview

Paul Williams RDI
Architect Paul Williams became an RDI in 2005.
Listen to the interview

Sarah Wigglesworth RDI
Architect Sarah Wigglesworth became an RDI in 2012.
Listen to the interview

Perry King RDI
Product designer Perry King became an RDI in 2000.
Listen to the interview

Nick Park
Animator Nick Park became an RDI in 2006.
Listen to the interview

Richard Hudson
Theatre designer Richard Hudson became an RDI in 1999.
Listen to the interview

Michael Foreman
Illustrator Michael Foreman became an RDI in 1985.
Listen to the interview

Alex McDowell
Production designer Alex McDowell became an RDI in 2006.
Listen to the interview

Neisha Crosland
Textile designer Neisha Crosland became an RDI in 2006.
Listen to the interview

Michael Wolff
Graphic designer Michael Wolff became an RDI in 2011.
Listen to the interview

Stuart Craig
Film production designer Stuart Craig became an RDI in 2004.
Listen to the interview

Paul Smith
Fashion designer Sir Paul Smith became an RDI in 1991.
Listen to the interview

David Gentleman
Stamp designer David Gentleman became an RDI in 1970.
Listen to the interview

Sir Kenneth Adam
Production designer Sir Kenneth Adam became an RDI in 2009.
Listen to the interview

Mark Farrow
Graphic designer Mark Farrow became an RDI in 2009.
Listen to the interview

Terence Woodgate
Furniture designer Terence Woodgate became an RDI in 2003.
Listen to the interview

Georgina Von Etzdorf
Textile designer Georgina Von Etzdorf became an RDI in 1997.
Listen to the interview

Nick Butler
Product Designer Nick Butler became an RDI in 1981.
Listen to the interview

Sue Blane
Costume & stage designer Sue Blane became an RDI in 2005.
Listen to the interview

Roger Law
Graphic design & caricature designer Roger Law became an RDI in 1999.
Listen to the interview

Kyle Cooper
Film & TV Graphics designer Kyle Cooper became an HonRDI in 2001.
Listen to the interview

Robin Levien
Ceramics and glass designer Robin Levien became an RDI in 1995.
Listen to the interview

Timothy O'Brien
Theatre designer Timothy O'Brien became an RDI in 1991.
Listen to the interview

Peter Brookes
Graphic designer, Peter Brookes became an RDI in 2002.
Listen to the interview

Kenneth Grange
Industrial designer, Kenneth Grange became an RDI in 1969.
Listen to the interview

Dinah Casson
Interior designer, Dinah Casson became an RDI in 2005.
Listen to the interview

Margaret Howell
Fashion designer, Margaret Howell became an RDI in 2007.
Listen to the interview

Ivan Chermayeff
Graphic designer, Ivan Chermayeff became an HonRDI in 1991.
Listen to the interview

Chris Wise
Design engineer, Chris Wise became an RDI in 1998.
Listen to the interview

Malcolm Garrett
New Media designer, Malcolm Garrett became an RDI in 2000.
Listen to the interview

Pearce Marchbank
Graphic designer, Pearce Marchbank became an RDI in 2004.
Listen to the interview

Betty Jackson
Fashion designer, Betty Jackson became an RDI in 1988.
Listen to the interview

Anthony Powell
Costume designer, Anthony Powell became an RDI in 1999.
Listen to the interview

Gerald Scarfe
Cartoonist, Gerald Scarfe became an RDI in 1989.
Listen to the interview

Arnold Schwartzman
Documentary filmmaker, Arnold Schwartzman became an RDI in 2006.
Listen to the interview

Sara Fanelli (HonRDI)
Illustrator, Sara Fanelli became an HonRDI in 2006.
Listen to the interview

Thomas Heatherwick
3D Designer, Thomas Heatherwick became an RDI in 2004.
Listen to the interview