Cambridge University researcher wins national cartoon competition

Alex Driver, who works for the Design Management Group, scooped first prize in the Young Cartoonist of the Year contest which was judged by some of the best known names in the field including the Guardian’s Steve Bell, Matt from the Daily Telegraph and Mac at the Daily Mail.

Alex says that he came up with the idea for his winning entry – a series of drawings on the theme of Rejected Harry Potter Titles – while chatting with a friend on the train from London to Cambridge and playing with sound-alike wording for the famous series. Examples include ‘Harry Potter and the Chamberpot of Sequels’ and ‘Harry Potter and the Goblin Umpire’.

He entered the competition after visiting the Cartoon Museum in London and learning that the Cartoon Arts Trust runs an annual competition for cartoonists under 30. “As I am turning 30 this spring, it was now or never - so I entered, never dreaming that I would win,” he said.

“When I got a phone call saying that I’d won, and telling me that my work was ‘funny, dynamic and publishable’, I was stunned. I was delighted to learn that Mac, the Daily Mail cartoonist, had particularly liked my submission,” he said.

Alex, who did a degree in mechanical engineering at Imperial College and a Masters in Industrial Design Engineering at the Royal College of Art, worked for a large design and engineering consultancy in London before taking up his current post in Cambridge 18 months ago. At IfM he is looking at how industrial designers can contribute to scientific research and he has been working with scientists in physics, chemistry and engineering.

“What I enjoy most is working on the very early stages of projects – when you are thinking about the potential applications of new technology and envisioning product concepts. One of my current projects is working with a biochemist on the development of solar panels which generate energy from the photosynthesis of algae. It’s fascinating be involved in the early stages of technological development where you feel that your ideas could have a big impact on the direction of the research,” he said.

“I’ve always enjoyed drawing and in my work I use pen and paper as much as possible, as it gives you the ultimate freedom. Computer aided design is incredibly useful as a tool but it has restrictions. Ever since I was at school I have drawn cartoons and when I was about ten I produced a 20-page Tintinesque story. I’ve always drawn cartoons for friends’ birthday cards but I’ve never had anything published professionally.”

That could all change as Alex has already had interest in his work. He received his Young Cartoonist of the Year award at a gala dinner held at the Mall Galleries in London last month.

Alex’s work can be seen on his blog http://alexdriver.blogspot.com