The University of Brighton Design Archives house a great deal of material relating to the designs of Robin Day and those of his wife Lucienne who died earlier this year. From Robin’s 1948 success in the Museum of Modern Art International Competition for Low Cost Furniture, and his subsequent designs for the furniture manufacturers Hille, both he and Lucienne became synonymous with the energy and youthful zest of post-war British design. Robin was a popular and regular contributor to projects initiated by the Council of Industrial Design and both his furniture and Lucienne’s textiles were feted as exemplars of contemporary British creativity.

In 1957, both Robin and Lucienne received Design Centre awards, Robin for a television cabinet and Lucienne for a carpet design. Within the file relating to this competition we find a delightful letter of thanks that Robin wrote on their behalf. No strangers to awards, accolades continued to accumulate as their careers progressed. Lesley Jackson’ excellent book of 2001 contains in its footnotes many helpful references to the documentation in the Design Archives relating to the Days. Additionally, much of their work is recorded in the Council’s photographic library and images from this unique resource within the Design Archives were featured in the recent documentary directed by Murray Grigor Contemporary Days: Robin and Lucienne Day.

For more information, see the Guardian obituaries for Robin Day and Lucienne Day, and view our Photo Album ‘Tribute to Robin and Lucienne Day’.