The award was inaugurated in 1998 but was born the year before when Roger Walker-Dack (formerly Dack) and DWS signed up to sponsor something significant for upcoming talents as a way to mark what would have been Peter’s 40th birthday. The full remit and vision for it was then crafted and sent on its way to students around the country.

Peter always relished early summer in London with the onset of the graduate shows. The focus was naturally at the New Designer shows where students came together under one roof, making life easier for professionals to get a snapshot and flavour for upcoming trends. It was therefore very appropriate to create this award for this event in particular. With the good luck of a successful career himself, it seemed only right that it ought to be repaid in a dynamic and simple way.

While this award may not be the most well known (yet), it is nonetheless one that unusually comes without any hidden corporate agenda. We take pride in the knowledge that we do not leverage any commercial activity from the award, the event, the student or the product, and only choose the final winning designer on creative merit alone.