Cressida Granger (entrepreneur)

Cressida Granger is a British entrepreneur. She is the owner and managing director of Mathmos, the lighting company founded by Edward Craven Walker, inventor of the lava lamp.

Career

Granger took over Mathmos in 1989 growing sales of lava lamps from almost zero to £18 million turnover within 10 years. As joint managing director she led the Mathmos sales and marketing effort to win two Queens Awards for Export and a number of other business awards.

After buying out her business partner David Mulley in 1998 she established Mathmos Design Studio and has led the design team at Mathmos in creating new award winning ambient lighting products both in house and in collaboration with external designers.

Granger is a History of Art Graduate (BA University of Manchester) and was a vintage design dealer specialising in 1960s and early 1970s design.

Creative industry activities

Granger was part of the Government Innovation Review Committee with James Dyson and Terrance Conran in 2003. She has sat on selection and judging panels for various design bodies including 100% Light, D&AD Awards and Design Nation Awards. Granger lectures occasionally at Ravensbourne Design College on entrepreneurship in design businesses.

Business and marketing awards

Queens Awards for Export 2000 and 1997

Verve Cliquot Woman of the Year Finalist 1999

Fast Track 100 (3rd fastest growing manufacturer 1999)

Yell Award best commercial website 1997

Design Week Best Consumer website 1998

Design awards

Red Dot Awards: 2006 (Grito), 2002 (Tumbler), 2001 (Bubble)

Gift Magazine Design Homewares winner 2005 (Airswitch tc)

Design Week commendations: 2004 (Airswitch Az), 2003 (Aduki), 2002 (Tumbler), 2001 (Fluidium)

House and Garden best consumer product 2004. (Airswitch Az)

Form 2001 Award (Tumbler)

Industrial Design Excellence Award (IDEA) 2001 (Bubble)

D&AD commendation 2001 (Bubble)

Light Magazine Decorative Lighting Award 2001 (Bubble)

FX Magazine finalist best lighting product 2000 (Fluidium)

References

• The Independent
• BBC
• The Guardian
• The Design Trust
• The Times
• Design Week
• D&AD
• ICON Magazine
• Mathmos

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Name	Granger, Cressida
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