Designer Of The Sinclair Spectrum Dies

Posted On April 27, 2018

It’s with great sadness we write this blog about the designer of the Sinclair Spectrum, Rick Dickinson who died today.

Who Was Rick Dickinson?

He was a British designer who worked for Sinclair Research and oversaw the development of the famous home computers in the 1980’s. Yep, they were called ‘home computers’ back then, not just computers.

Over his career, he was also responsible for developing technology for the UK company’s touch-sensitive and rubber keyboards.

Rubber keyboards were said to have been a design created to cut costs. Touch sensitive mats were used as they were much cheaper than traditional keyboards with multiple components.

An Inspiration For The Tech Comunity

The machines developed by the company had a reputation amongst gamers, creatives and game makers. Rick Dickinson joined Sinclair in 1979 as a graduate of industrial design from Newcastle Polytechnic.

Although he left the company, he set up his own industrial design consultancy in Cambridgeshire; here he was asked to be involved in the design of the first Amstrad portable computers.

When we consider early mobiles and games consoles look how they do, thanks to the to the designs of Richard Dickinson; it’s a shame that very few people know his name.

Vintage Technology

When you consider 7.32 million iPhones were sold worldwide in the first quarter of 2018, and how far phones have come since Mr Dickinson designs first hit the market, it’s no surprise he’s an inspiration for designers in 2018.

Although we don’t accept computers for recycling as far back as 1979, the science museum actually has the Spectrum on display. They have not only become an icon of how far technology has come; but also a symbol of design innovation.