Alastair Stuart Curtis - 2009
Alastair Curtis is currently Head of Design for Nokia, the mobile phone giant. He was born and grew up in Leeds, moving south in 1986 to study at Brunel, graduating in 1990 with a BSc in Industrial Design. After Brunel, Alastair was awarded a scholarship and continued his studies for two years at the Royal College of Art. He obtained both an MA in Industrial Design Engineering (Royal College of Art) and a Diploma of Imperial College.
After finishing his studies, Alastair worked as a freelance designer and undertook various projects, including six months with British Gas. He joined Nokia as a Design Engineer in 1993 and within three years was promoted to the post of Senior Designer. In 1997, he moved from the UK to Los Angeles to help establish the new Nokia Design Center and in 2000 was promoted to the post of Design Director.
Alastair's original two-year term in LA was extended to eight years and he returned to the UK in 2004 to a new global position as Vice-President of Design for Nokia's largest business unit, mobile phones. Further promotion followed in 2006 when he was appointed to his current post as Nokia's Chief Designer. He has a strong track-record in bringing many award-winning mobile phone designs to market, his first with Nokia being the original version of the 3210.
Alastair has offices in Finland at the Design Studio in Espoo, and London. He travels extensively and has often said that much of his design inspiration comes from watching people, whenever and wherever he can.
Alastair is married, has two sons and lives in Manchester. Outside of work and his family, his main interest is long distance cycling.
In recognition of his outstanding services to Design, he is awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Engineering.
