Mar 18 2010

Richard Murray, co-founder of Williams Murray Hamm, has died of skin cancer.

Murray, aged 44, was one of the best-known figures in the design industry due to his outspoken view on marketing formulae and the industry’s over-reliance on design clichés. He wrote three books on the subject, ‘The Little Book of Don’ts’, ‘Churnmore’ and ‘Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time’ and was a regular columnist for Design Week in the late 90s. The FT and The Guardian both recognised him as being one of the most influential figures in UK design.

Williams Murray Hamm is undoubtedly one of the most celebrated design consultancies of the last decade. It topped the Design Week Creativity chart three times, has twice been named Design Agency of the Year by Marketing Magazine and was ranked number one for design effectiveness by the DBA for three consecutive years. The company have won more creative awards in that period than any other design consultancy. In recent years WMH have been working with large corporate clients like Barclays, Fortnum and Mason and Syngenta, but Murray will probably be best remembered for the agency’s bold and provocative work with brands like Hovis, Clipper Tea, and Sainsbury’s SO Organic.

Richard will be sadly missed, our thoughts are with his family and our colleagues at Williams Murray Hamm.

Donations in his memory can be made to Hatherop Castle School via Cowley and Son Ltd, Cirencester, on 01285 653298.