10 days ago the Design Museum in London gave away one of the most prestigious design related awards, the "designer of the year award" to Hilary Cottam, a "non-designer" or to put it nicer an "enabler". While the work of Mrs Cottam might be well worth of recognition why is she getting a prize that should be given to a designer? Lots of articles about this issue in the British press, look inside for the list and leave your comments.
- Deyan Sudjic writting for the observer, the first article I read on the issue and very critical of the way in which the design museum handled the matter.

- Design award winner no shaper of 'things', the guardian announcing the award.

- Top designer turned school around, The British Broadcasting Corporation also announcing the award. I love the title of this BBC article, cut and paste press release journalism of the highest level.

- Bureaucrat of the Year, Excellent article by James Heartfield from spiked magazine, written with first hand knowledge of the case and ultimately claimimg that the design bureaucracy is hungry for taking the credit for the work of designers.

- John Thackara on his Doors of Perception weblog, writes a different oppinion: "the award to Cottam signals a shift away from the obsession with celebrity and authorship that so often renders discussion of design tedious".

- Radical vision is secret of inspired solutions, "Design" became last week's issue in the Times Online Public sector section.

- And finally a link to RED the Design's Council think tank team led by Mrs. Cottam

oh! one more link the designer of the year website.