DRU History

DRU History

Founded in 1942 by Herbert Read, Misha Black and Milner Gray, Design Research Unit was the first consultancy to combine expertise in architecture, graphics and industrial design.

It’s not an exaggeration to say the DRU has influenced the way generations of people interact with the urban environment.

The Unit was responsible for some of the most important design produced in post-war Britain. From the identities for British Rail, Courage Brewery and ICI, to significant work for the London Transport Executive and Westminster’s street signs, and a number of interiors for the P&O Orient Line’s new liner the Oriana.

By the 1970s it was one of the largest and most established design

offices in Europe. 

Design Research Unit in 1968. Consisting of: Hu Anderson, William Apps, Kenneth Bayes, Misha Black, Ron Braddick, Dion Brown, Marcus Brumwelll, Sonia Budden, Tania Butler, Jock Cochrane, Peter Cockburn, Keith Cornwell, David Cumming, Gillian Dathan, Fred Dickinson, John Doggart, Charlotte Edmonds, William Furbisher, June Fraser, Nicholas Garland, Alexander Gibson, Dorothy Goslett, Milner Gray, Maurice Green, Dieter Heil, William Hetherington, Marie Hill, Jenny Hunt, Dilys Kelly, Celia Lambert, Kenneth Lamble, Carol Marcantonio, Flora McArdle, Jan Muller,  Richard Rogers, Su Rogers, Stuart Rose, George Smith, Andrew Sutton, Jefferey Townsend, Christopher Trimmings, Doreen Walton, Simon Wells, Robert West, Jim Williams, Mary Williams, Carol Walker, Doreen Walton, Brenda Whittle, Anthony Wilkinson, Shirley Wyles, Robert Yuill.

Let’s make something extraordinary

You're looking for exceptional architecture. We're looking for exceptional projects. Let's start a conversation

Enquire