We’ve driven a whole string of Jaguars this past 18 months and without exception, they’ve been the most enthusiastically received by those who’ve seen them. Ranging from nods of approval in car parks, generous gestures allowing us into those gaps in traffic, all the way to taps on the office door for a ride in the F Type Jaguar. The blend of style, technology and above all the integration of usability is now the hallmark of Ian Callum’s design.
So today, it’s only fair to remark on the fact that he is now regarded in the same exalted status as Guigaro and Mary Quant with the award of The Minerva Medal for outstanding design. Awarded by The Chartered Society for Designers, the Minerva Medal isn’t simply another automotive annual gong that comes around every year, it’s only awarded when the recipient is identified as being worthy of merit. If this means that several years pass between announcements, then so be it. The Medal is cast from sterling silver and bears the proud profile of Minerva, the Roman Goddess of Wisdom, Knowledge and Education
The Minerva Medal is the highest accolade given by the Society and was presented by the Society’s Patron, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh at the Minerva Dinner in St James’s Palace in London on 25th November. Previous recipients have included British architect Lord Rogers of Riverside, who designed the Pompidou Centre in Paris, British fashion designer Mary Quant and Italian kitchen-ware designer Alberto Allessi. The last automotive winner was Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro in 1981.
Ian Callum said: “Receiving the Minerva Medal and being recognised for my contribution to car design alongside such outstanding designers is a real high point in my career. To have my life’s work on display and having the automotive car design industry recognised by such a prestigious society with HRH The Duke of Edinburgh as its patron is a truly humbling experience.”
Without a doubt, his vision of the new design philosophy has proved instrumental in the dramatic global resurgence of the brand. The fact that one of my favourite Ian Callum images is the Jay Leno joint selfie from this year’s Mille Miglia shows that he’s not just a superbly talented designer, but he’s just as enthusiastic about driving cars as the rest of us. Congratulations.
