Thomas Heatherwick

After studying three-dimensional design at Manchester Metropolitan University and at the Royal College of Art, Heatherwick founded Heatherwick Studio in 1994.

Known for its imaginative work in architecture, infrastructure, sculpture, design and strategic thinking, the studio consists of architects, designers and makers.

Heatherwick’s work includes nationally significant projects, such as the award-winning UK Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo (2010), the New Routemaster Bus for London (2010), the Olympic Cauldron for the London 2012 Olympic Games, the Vessel (2019) and Little Island (2021) in New York City.

He was the youngest practitioner to be appointed a Royal Designer for Industry, and in 2013 was awarded a CBE for services to design.

Speaking in 2015, the designer explained that his “passion is solving problems”. "We just see everything as problems, whether it’s the Olympic cauldron or a 4 million-square-foot development in Shanghai. It's just a problem to solve,” he explained.