In the summer of 1973 as a product design graduate straight from college I was offered a design assistant job with Bill Morridge Associates then in Bills house in Dartmouth Park Road North London. Very over-awed I was welcomed into the group and the family by Bill and Karin. The design rigour and beliefs that Bill communicated has stayed with me since then and his world wide influence and achievements are as inimitable and far reaching as his imagination. He is a real design hero…thank you Bill

I had the pleasure of meeting Bill when I worked at IDEO. I’ve always remembered the conversations we had about this, that and the other while I was getting the printers connected for him. He always had time for a kind smile and cheerful greeting. Thank you, Bill.

He set up the bar high. His humble beautiful soul will be forever remembered. So many designers look up to him. Of course I think of you. I think of you when I see Wall-E collecting objects, discovering them, surprised but the world around him, his input always unique.

I never met Bill but so enjoyed his segment within the Objectified documentary DVD. It was so obvious the delight he found on a daily basis with the world around him. Especially items like his Ettore Sottsass spoon, Japanese plastic fish and his ancient pickup truck. It seemed obvious he and David Kelly would follow a similar design path. I love to turn on my fellow design colleagues to Bill’s work, especially when opening their laptop.

I had the pleasure of meeting Bill while I was a design student at Virginia Tech in 2006. We had the best time while he was visiting. That was special. What a guy.

Was fortunate to meet Bill in LA in 2004 while interviewing him for a part of my Fulbright thesis on the role of education in design, the d-school, the ‘new’ and much needed design education. We talked a lot about designers being built as a ‘T’ – vertical skills and horizontal communication. A bridge between disciplines. He was a gentle giant, never boasting and always on the point. Was a privilege to see him more times after he moved to the East Coast, and lastly through his ‘Design Talks’ series. Mentor, leader – thank you for your openness, and for making an impact in my life and career.

I wish I had met Bill, but it’s more than enough consolation to have come across his contribution to the world, and be changed by his ideas. I took my cue from his idea of multi-disciplinary collaboration, and brought it with me as inspiration the first time I gave a pitch at Startup Weekend. I have Bill to thank for affirming the uniqueness I share with the world.

I was lucky enough to spend an evening meal sitting opposite Bill and share stories about Denmark, design and our opinions on user experience and usability. His way of insight driven problem-solving has inspired me and I look back at that chance encounter as a defining moment in my professional life. We lost a great man in so many ways and much too soon. But the legacy and memories he has left I am truly grateful for.

dear bill,
i miss you! i think of you almost every day. you lived in an exemplary way. “WWBD?”

—katie

Letter from Bill Moggridge to Cass Moggridge (Bill’s sister-in-law), 23rd of June (year not given).

Dear Cass,

Well I suppose I must tell you the story of my terrible adventure in Kalamazoo. Kalamazoo sounds as if it should be in the middle of the Sahara desert doesn’t it, but it is in the flat lands of Michigan between three of the great lakes.

I was staying in the Sheraton hotel in one of those hotel rooms on the sixth floor which was entirely indistinguishable from all those other hotel rooms on the sixth floor of any Sheraton anywhere. I went to sleep at about 11.30 pm and slept soundly for a time; then woke up suddenly, put on the light and walked straight to the door of the hotel room. I opened it and checked that the corridor was empty and then took half a step forward. I can still feel the sensation of the door pushing against my bottom and gently propelling me into the corridor, followed by that inexorable click as it shut leaving me in the corridor without a stitch of clothing on.

My room was near the lift so I thought it would be wise to head off in the other direction in search of an open door to a laundry cupboard with a towel in or something, or perhaps a waste paper basket, or a polythene bag, or anything.

The corridor was completely empty; just locked doors and an ice machine, with an exit staircase at the end. I tried going up to the roof but even that was locked.

By this time I realized that I’d probably been woken by the urgent need to pee. But where? No receptacles visible, so I was forced to dismantle a wall mounted ashtray, which when duly filled I deposited on the exit staircase.

Well would the next floor down be exactly the same or would it offer some magical garment or covering? It was exactly the same of course – just locked doors and an ice machine. And so was the next and the next. Finally I arrived at the ground floor level and cautiously peered into the corridor, to find with some dismay that it could not be the witching hour as the music was still coming from the bar and that someone was walking along the corridor towards the bar and the reception desk beyond it.

There seemed no alternative to the parking lot. Quite cool and refreshing really. Round the back of the hotel I spied an enormous skip and thought. “Ah- lovely rubbish.” Lifting up the heavy steel lid I rummaged around inside, just reaching in by standing on tiptoe. And then the reward. Newspaper! Folding the sheets together I manufactured a sort of Hawaiian skirt; unfortunately it was not entirely secure so I had to walk with both elbows tucked in to hold it up.

I then marched into the hotel along past the bar and up to reception where a guest was talking to the receptionist. “ You’ll never believe this but I locked myself out of my room” was my explanation. The receptionist had never moved so fast I had another key in my hand within 3 seconds.

Then back past the bar, up in the lift, dressed, down the corridor, picked up my ashtray and brought it back, emptied cleaned and returned it, back to bed and fell into a dreamless sleep.

The poltergeist had not quite left however; before I got back to Palo Alto I missed 2 planes and got myself booked on another which had been cancelled for the last four months.

Love,
Bill

PS I hope you will be persuaded by Karin’s suggestion and take a week off (or two) with us.