Ross Lovegrove is regarded as one of the most important and innovative of contemporary industrial designers. Not only are his works often inspired by natural forms; Ross Lovegrove is also an expert in ergonomy, the creator of designs that are supposed to stir users' emotions. The materials and manufacturing techniques Ross Lovegrove chooses are invariably leading-edge and following the guidelines prescribed by Green Design, which calls for ecological awareness informing the entire design process and more durable products. Born in Cardiff, Wales, in 1958, Ross Lovegrove studied industrial design at Manchester Polytechnic until 1980 before switching to the Royal College of Art in London, where he remained until 1983 at the Royal College of Art in London. Then Ross Lovegrove spent several years at Frogdesign, Hartmut Esslinger's design agency in Altensteig, Germany. There Lovegrove was involved in designing both the Sony Walkman and Apple computer chassis. There followed a stint at Knoll International, where Ross Lovegrove developed the bestselling Alessandri Office System. Ross Lovegrove became a member of Atelier de Nîmes, a design practice to which Philippe Starck, Jean Nouvel, Martine Bedin, and Gérard Barrau belonged, and advised firms such as Louis Vuitton, Cacharel, Dupont, and Hermès. In 1986 Ross Lovegrove returned to Britain, where he at first ran a London practice jointly with Julian Brown, before founding his own in 1990, Studio X. Ross Lovegrove has designed for numerous international companies, including British Airways, Cappellini, Ceccotti, Connolly Leather, Driade, Fratelli Guzzini, Herman Miller, Luceplan, Moroso, Olympus, Parker, Philips, and Tag Heuer. In 1993 Ross Lovegrove was commissioned to build up the first London Design Museum collection.