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British descent, Milner Gray studied painting and design
at Goldsmith's College. Known as a graphic, exhibition
and industrial designer, he was a founder member of
the SIA based in London, being its president from 1943
to 1948. Gray taught at the RCA, Goldsmith's College,
and the Reimann and Chelsea Schools of Art from 1934
to 1940. From 1937 to 1940, he was also principal of
the Sir John Cass School of Arts and Crafts. In 1940
he joined the MOI as head of the exhibition branch,
until 1941, when he served as principal advisor. Advertiser's
Weekly noted his leaving in 1943 with an article.
In 1943 Gray was a founder, with Misha Black, of
the Design Research Unit, London, remaining as a consultant
until the early 1980s. Their work included the interior
design of the passenger liner Oriana. Gray was was
co-ordinating artist for the exhibitions Design at
Home and Design at Work, London, 1948, and consultant
to the BBC schools broadcasts Looking at Things, 1949-55.
He participated in the design of the British pavilion
at the New York World Fair, 1939, the Britain Can
Make It exhibition, 1947, and the Festival of Britain,
1951.
Gray's work has been widely exhibited, including
industrial design exhibitions, the Paris International
Exhibition, 1937, the Milan Triennale, 1957 and the
exhibitions of AGI, Paris, London and Lausanne. Known
for his development of house styles and identity programmes
for large British companies, Gray 'contributed significantly
to an improved public awareness of design practice
in the UK' by his various public offices. Papers related
to Gray's work, 1910 to 1955 are held at NAL.
Information collated from: 'Milner Gray Leaves
M.O.I. After Three Years', Advertiser's Weekly,
November 25 1943, p.187; Amstutz, W., Who's Who
in Graphic Art 1962, p.237; Livingston, A. and
Livingston, I., Dictionary of Graphic Design and
Designers, 1992, p.92; National Art Library, 'AAD
Holdings', http://www.nal.vam.ac.uk/aad/aadalpha.html,
accessed August 28 2003
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