SIR JOHN SORRELL CBE
John Sorrell was born in London in 1945. He went to Saturday morning classes at Hornsey College of Art when he was 14 and later studied art and design there full-time. He set up his first business when he was 19 and during his career of over more than 40 years he has created one of Europe’s biggest and most successful design businesses, chaired both of the UK’s public design bodies, originated the London Design Festival and set up a Foundation which inspires creativity in young people.
John co-founded Newell and Sorrell with Frances Sorrell (née Newell) in 1976. The company grew to become one of Europe’s biggest and most successful design and identity businesses, working for clients around the world. John was Chairman until 2000 when he and Frances sold the company and set up their Foundation.
John was appointed Chair of CABE (Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment) in 2004. CABE is the Government’s advisor on architecture, urban design and public space. Previously John chaired the UK Design Council from 1994 to 2000 after carrying out a major review which created a blueprint for the transformation and future strategy for the organisation.
He is the Chairman of the London Design Festival which he devised and founded in 2003 with the purpose of celebrating and promoting London and the UK’s creativity. Now in its fifth year, the Festival brings 200 events to an international audience each September.
John is Co-Chair of the Sorrell Foundation, which aims to inspire creativity in young people and improve quality of life through good design. For the last eight years the Foundation has worked with thousands of pupils in primary and secondary schools, as well as with university students and professional designers to give young people vital life and work skills, and to champion their involvement as clients in the schools refurbishment and rebuilding programme
John holds a number of other appointments including: Chair, Infrastructure Group DCMS Creative Economy Programme; Member of the Home Office Design and Technology Alliance; Member DCMS Chairs Group and Member of the High Level Stakeholders Group, Foresight Project on Sustainable Energy Management and the Built Environment.
John was appointed CBE in 1996 and was awarded the Royal Society of Arts Bicentenary Medal in 1998. He holds four Honorary Design Doctorates, an Honorary Design Fellowship and is an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy. He was elected an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 2002. John was awarded a Knighthood in the 2008 New Year Honours List `for services to the Creative Industries’.
John is a regular speaker and broadcaster on design, creativity and identity, appearing on television and radio and at conferences around the world. His book, `Creative Island’ (Laurence King Publishing, 2002), features inspired design from Great Britain. He co-authored `Joinedupdesignforschools’ (Merrell, 2005) with Frances Sorrell.
John is married to Frances Sorrell and they have three children. His interests include art, architecture, Arsenal FC, creativity, design, education, ideas, innovation and inspiration.
Previous Appointments
A Vice-President of the Chartered Society of Designers (1989-92)
Chairman of the Design Business Association (1990-92)
Member, British Rail Architecture and Design Panel (1991-93)
Member, Royal Society of Arts Design Advisory Group (1991-93)
Governor, Design Dimension (1991-93)
Member, Design Council (1992-94)
Chairman, Design Council (1994-2000)
Deputy Chairman, Prince Philip Designers Prize (1995-2000)
Member, DTI’s Encouraging Innovation Competitiveness Working Party (1997)
Member of the DfEE’s Learning Journey Ministerial Committee (1998-2000)
Member of the FCO’s Panel 2000 and Chairman of its Strategy Group (1998-2000)
Member, NMEC’s Creative Review Group (1998-2000)
Chairman, Millennium Medals Panel (1999)
Member, QCA Advisory Group for Media and Culture (1999-2001)
Co-chair, Britain Abroad Task Force (2001-02)
Chairman, NHS London Design Advisory Group (2001-03)
Governor, Fortismere School (2001-05)
Member of the DCMS Culture and Creativity Advisory Group (2002-03)
Member of the DfES Advisory Group on Design of School Buildings (2002-04)
Non-Executive Director/Trustee, RIBA Trust (2003-05)
Commissioner, Creative London/LDA (2004-05)
Member of the FCO Public Diplomacy Strategy Board (2002-06)
Member of the DfES London Challenge Ministerial Advisory Group (2002-06)
Honours & Awards
Fellow of the Chartered Society of Designers (1986)
Appointed CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours (1996)
Honorary Doctor of Design, De Montfort University (1997)
RSA Bicentenary Medal, given annually `to a person who has exerted exceptional
influence in promoting art and design in British industry’ (1998)
Honorary Doctor of The London Institute (now University of the Arts, London) (1999)
Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (2002)
Honorary Fellow of University College Falmouth (2006)
Honorary Doctor of Middlesex University (2006)
Honorary Doctor of London Metropolitan University (2006)
Companion of the Chartered Management Institute (2006)
Honorary Doctor of Greenwich University (2007)
Office Contact:
The Sorrell Foundation
Somerset House
Strand
London WC2R 1LA
Tel: +44 (0)20 7845 5860
Fax: +44 (0)20 7845 5872