David Mellor (designer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Mellor
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The former Hathersage gas works which was converted into the David Mellor cutlery factory
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David Rogerson Mellor
5 October 1930 Ecclesall, Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
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| Died | 7 May 2009 (age 78) |
| Occupation | Designer |
| Known for | Design for bus shelters, cutlery, and the traffic lights system |
| Spouse(s) | Fiona MacCarthy |
| Children | 2 |
David Rogerson Mellor (born October 5, 1930 – died May 7, 2009) was a famous English designer. He also made and sold his own products. Many people think he was one of Britain's best designers.
David Mellor was really good at working with metal, especially making cutlery (like forks and spoons). He also designed other everyday things. These included bus shelters and the traffic light system. His traffic lights are still used all over the United Kingdom and its territories.
Contents
Early Life and Design Training
David Mellor was born in Ecclesall, a part of Sheffield, England. His father worked with tools for a company there. From the age of eleven, David went to the Junior Art Department at Sheffield College of Art. Here, he learned many craft skills. He even made his first metal piece, a sweet dish, when he was very young.
Later, he studied at the Royal College of Art in London starting in 1950. While he was still a student, he designed his first cutlery set called "Pride." This design is still made and sold today! David also studied in Rome for a while.
Designing with Metal
After his studies, David Mellor came back to Sheffield. He opened a workshop to make special, one-of-a-kind silver items. He created modern silver tableware for British embassies around the world. The government wanted these designs to show a new, modern image of Britain.
Stainless Steel Cutlery
Besides working with silver, David Mellor was very interested in stainless steel. This material was quite new for design back then. In 1963, his "Symbol" cutlery was made in a modern factory in Bolsover. This was the first high-quality stainless steel cutlery made in large amounts in the UK.
The government then asked David to redesign cutlery for places like canteens, hospitals, and trains. He made the traditional 11-piece set into just five pieces. This helped to save money.
Public Designs
David Mellor also worked with an engineering company called Abacus Municipal. He designed things for public spaces. These included street lighting, bus shelters, public benches, and litter bins. Since 1959, about 140,000 of his bus shelters have been put up.
In 1965, the government asked him to redesign the national traffic light system. This was part of a big update to all traffic signs. David Mellor's redesigned traffic lights are still used today across the country.
Making His Own Designs
In 1973, David Mellor decided to start making his own cutlery designs. He bought a large, old mansion called Broom Hall in Sheffield. The building was empty and falling apart. He fixed it up and moved his machines into the large Georgian part of the building. This renovation even won an award!
David Mellor changed how cutlery was made. Before, workers would only do one small part of the process. But he created a new system where his cutlery makers would switch between different tasks. This made their jobs more interesting because they felt more involved in making the whole product.
In 1990, David Mellor built a brand new factory just for making cutlery. It was designed by the famous architect Michael Hopkins. This factory is known as the Round Building. It was built on the circular foundations of an old gas works in Hathersage, which is in the Peak District National Park.
David Mellor Shops
The very first David Mellor shop opened in London in 1969. More shops followed in other parts of London and in Manchester. In 2006, a shop and a design museum opened in Hathersage. They are right next to the Round Building factory.
Awards and Public Work
David Mellor was a very respected designer. In 1962, at just 32 years old, he became the youngest person to be named a Royal Designer for Industry. He also led a committee that looked into the quality of design in everyday products in Britain. He was the Chairman of the Crafts Council and a trustee of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
He received special honorary degrees from many universities, including the University of Sheffield and the Royal College of Art. He was also given two important national honors: the OBE in 1981 and the CBE in 2001.
In 1996, a big exhibition of his work was held at the Design Museum in London. Today, you can visit the David Mellor Design Museum in Hathersage, next to his cutlery factory.
Personal Life
David Mellor stopped designing in 2005 when he was 74. He was married to Fiona MacCarthy, who wrote books about history and culture. They had two children: Corin and Clare. Corin is now the Creative Director of David Mellor Design, following in his father's footsteps. Clare is a graphic designer.
David Mellor passed away on May 7, 2009, at the age of 78.
Images for kids
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The former Hathersage gas works which was converted into the David Mellor cutlery factory
