In Memory of Russell Taylor

We are saddened to share the news that Russell Taylor passed away on Monday August 19th, 2024. We mourn the loss of an exceptional colleague. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family and loved ones during this time.

Russell, a university lecturer at SFU, was a valued faculty member of SIAT for twenty-two years. He was an exceptional teacher, mentor and above all else, an extraordinary person. He overflowed with passion for design, designers, and design education with an energy that was matched only by his commitment to students. His gift as an educator was recognized in 2013 when he was awarded the prestigious SFU Excellence in Teaching Award. Russell’s positive impact on students over decades of teaching cannot be overstated. He motivated students time and time again to extend beyond their limits, deepen their critical skills, and question practices of design to improve a world marked by crisis and challenges.

Russell created and led, from 2004 to 2022, the SFU field schools in Italy, known as ItaliaDesign and in the Netherlands, known as DutchDesign. The annual field schools allowed him to share with students his love, knowledge, and experience of the diverse practices and living histories of design through countless interviews by students and studio visits with the most known and influential designers in Europe. These remarkable experiences have deeply impacted and transformed the lives of hundreds of SIAT students. They also created a network of international designers that respected Russell as a colleague and often called him a friend.

Russell organized and directed the celebrated Touchpoint Design Conference starting in 2012 to its recent 2024 event. Each year it sold out, attracting over 200 students and alumni. The conference also drew prominent speakers worldwide; many were notable SIAT alumni from leading agencies, consultancies, and tech companies. Russell created a space to directly connect students with design professionals that led to internships, employment, or new connections, giving students a head start in their careers.

Whether by mentorship, teaching, or encouragement, Russell knew the importance of bridging academic learning with practical experience and the professional worlds of designing. His legacy was his ability to craft in students the skills, knowledge, and sense of exploration to find their way, years after graduation to become compassionate, ethical, and impactful professionals in design or in whatever field they chose.

Above all, Russell’s humanness was his strength. He understood the value and critical importance of human relationships of work and friendship. He sought to create and strengthen bonds between us, fostering the kind of social connections in which we learn, find value, and strive to better those around us.

Russell’s love of teaching was and remains a deep part of his soul.

We understand that it is a difficult time for Russell Taylor’s family. We ask you as they have asked us, to respect their wishes for privacy at this time to mourn their loss. A private, family celebration of life will be held in the future.

For more information, please contact Natalie Brenton (nbrenton@sfu.ca)