GDS Richard Cuthbert finalist for Gottelier Award PLASA 2010
Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010 
Winner of the 2009 Gottelier Award, Alex Cooper of Klark Teknik & Midas
Recognising the people behind the products
Named in honour of the late designer, developer and commentator Tony Gottelier (pictured right), the Gottelier Award aims to recognise the product developers who have made a significant and sustained contribution to the development of the equipment and tools that enable our entertainment technology practitioners to continually push the boundaries of event production, presentation and installation.
This Year’s Nominations
Richard Cuthbert
Richard Cuthbert is director of engineering for GDS (Global Design Solutions) and prides his design of all GDS products on making a real difference to the industry and end user.
Thanks to Richard’s work, GDS has introduced several industry firsts including Blues System, a maintenance free working light system; Mobal, the world’s first fully automated Socapex Tester; a new cue light system allowing for the connection of a stage manger’s desk via CAT5; and wireless DMX Uplighters that charge in the flight case via mains or a solar panel. These solutions are all driven by Richard and his ability to convert his ideas into actual products.
Fred Foster
Fred Foster is Chief Executive Officer of ETC (Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.), and one of the best known designers and developers in the industry. He started ETC in 1975 with the goal of installing the first memory lighting-control system in the New York Metropolitan Opera House. During his time he has developed a wide range of innovate products including Mega-Cue, perhaps the first console to utilise digital multiplexed data over two conductors between the desk and dimmers; the Concept console that led to the Expression/Express line of control desks; the Obsession Console and the Sensor Dimming System. He contributed to the design of the Eos, Congo and Ion desks and led the commercialisation of what became the Source Four family of spotlights. He was also a member of the USITT panel that defined what became the DMX-512 protocol.
Stephen Court
Stephen Court has a long, innovative history in the industry. For many years he was the driving force behind Court Acoustics and his Black Box and Ramjet loudspeaker systems are known industry-wide. Now in his sixties, Stephen operates a leisure and arts centre in Taunton, but is still highly active in the design and manufacture of sound products. Some of Stephen’s career highlights include creating the first off-stage mix in 1972; forming Court Acoustics, pioneering early PA systems and introducing the world’s first stereo graphic equaliser and portable spectrum analyser in 1973; supplying the first line arrays to the Royal Festival Hall in ‘76 and introducing Black Box, the first PA to be used as line array in ‘78. In the nineties Stephen invented Sound Check, the world’s best selling test CD.
Wayne Howell
Nominated for the fourth consecutive year, well-known industry figure Wayne’s innovative products span the entertainment and architectural markets. He helped develop ESTA standards DMX512 and RDM, created Art-Net – the royalty free control protocol – and initiated the Zero Carbon Project and authored Control Freak and Rock Solid Ethernet.
Udo Kuenzler
Udo Kuenzler founded GLP in 1994. GLP’s debut in Frankfurt featured the Patend Light, Udo’s innovative fixture combining the mechanics of a moving head and a moving mirror. Recently, the Impression moving head brought the advantages of LED technology to the masses in an affordable, tourable and usable fixture. New innovations in incorporating LEDs into fresnel optics, liquid cooling to reduce fixture noise, and the world’s first high powered RGB LED spot fixture are all on the cusp of public launch from Udo.
Glenn Rogers
Glenn Rogers started at Allen & Heath as a design engineer in 1983, swiftly rising through the ranks to become Technical Director in 1986, Managing Director in 1992 and guiding it through a Management Buy Out. Growing sales to £25m, Glenn has been integral to the technical innovations that have made A&H successful. Standout achievements include the GS Series of recording consoles; pioneering dual-functionality in the 1990s with the GL Series; introducing professional sound and build quality to the DJ market with Xone; launching ICON, the first digital live mixer; and using Ethernet for audio control.
