LONDON, UK — The design world is in mourning following the passing of Gerard Taylor, a pioneering Scottish designer whose career spanned five decades and helped redefine the intersection of form, function, and human connection. He died at the age of 70, leaving behind a legacy as bold and enduring as the works he created.
Born in Bellshill, Scotland, Taylor began his creative journey in product design before studying at the Royal College of Art, where his vision quickly caught the attention of global design leaders. In 1981, he was invited by Ettore Sottsass to join the Memphis Group in Milan—an avant-garde design collective whose daring, postmodern creations revolutionized contemporary design.
Taylor’s sculptural furniture from this period now resides in museum collections, testaments to his fearless creativity and experimental approach.
In the years that followed, Taylor continued to make his mark in the commercial world, designing iconic retail interiors for Esprit, Selfridges, Habitat, and Orla Kiely—spaces that not only sold products but told stories, embodied emotion, and invited reflection.
Yet it was his two-decade tenure at Orangebox, where he served as Creative Director, that perhaps best captured the heart of Taylor’s philosophy. He viewed office furniture not simply as functional objects, but as instruments of behavior and culture. He led the brand in crafting environments that prioritized comfort, storytelling, and the psychological experience of space—designs that felt alive, and deeply attuned to the people who used them.
“He believed that good design was never just about solving problems—it was about asking better questions,” said a colleague from Orangebox. “Gerard pushed boundaries gently but firmly, with intelligence, wit, and humanity.”
A thinker as much as a maker, Taylor remained active and creatively engaged until his final days. He was preparing a retrospective exhibition with the Modern Institute in Glasgow, set to celebrate the breadth and depth of his extraordinary body of work.
Taylor is survived by his wife, Clare Chandler, who was his partner in both life and creative exploration.
As news of his passing spreads, designers, artists, and friends around the world are remembering Gerard Taylor not only for his aesthetic vision but for his quiet, profound influence on how we live, work, and move through the world.
“He taught us that design isn’t just what we see—it’s what we feel,” said one tribute. “And that lesson will stay with us always.”
Gerard Taylor, 1955–2025. A designer of ideas, a master of meaning, and a gentle revolutionary. He will be deeply missed
