Prince Philip Designers Prize Announces Contenders for 50th Anniversary Year

The countdown to naming the winner of the 2009 Prince Philip Designers Prize, awarded annually to recognize a lifetime contribution to design, has begun with the nomination of nine design luminaries including David Adjaye, Wayne Hemingway and Hussein Chalayan.

The winner of the Prize, which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary, will be announced by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh at a presentation ceremony followed by a reception on 15 October at Buckingham Palace.

The Prince Philip Designers Prize has been in existence since the early days of the Design Council.

It was created by HRH as a response to post-war austerity, and early winners, such as the Prestcold Packaway refrigerator by Charles Longman (1959) stood out from the largely functional designs of the era.

These days the emphasis of the Prize is on the outstanding contributions of designers themselves to design among businesses and the public.

In its half century, the prestigious award has rewarded the best in design from products and graphics to buildings and feats of engineering, and has put the spotlight on designers for influencing and shaping our daily lives.

David Kester, Chief Executive of the Design Council, commented: "There are many design prizes, so for one to endure for five decades, as this one has, it's got to be special.

The Prince Philip Designers Prize is unique for several reasons, not least its royal patron who continues to lead the judging with passion and expertise."