We were heartbroken to learn that AA alum David Phillips, known by many of his contemporaries as David Max, sadly passed away last Friday 17 November. David was full of joy and made people laugh with a quirky sense of humour. He will be sorely missed.

David joined the AA as a mature student in 1991, having previously studied graphic design in Paris between 1978 and 1983, and following years of freelance work in textile design and printing. He had produced the fabrics for the chairs and aircraft seat upholstery for Nigel Coates’ Bohemia Jazz Club in Tokyo in 1986, and his application to join the AA school was accompanied by a letter of recommendation from Nigel. As one of the leading students of his generation, and being fully self-funded in his studies, he was awarded a bursary and was provided long-term assistantship positions in the AA Library and Dark Room, which he supplemented with evenings working as an usher at the Screen on the Hill cinema.

The AA became David’s home. He was involved in organising carnivals and events, and was voted in to represent students as an AA Council Member in 1995, during a decisive year at the AA that culminated in Mohsen Mostafavi being elected Chaiman (Director) of the school. David remained on Council for a year after graduating in 1996. He co-tutored in Foundation with Julia Wood in 1998/99, and continued to collaborate with other Units after that. He ran his own practice whilst teaching at a number of other schools in the UK and Jamaica.

David didn’t have family in the UK and his friends, colleagues and students were everything to him. His funeral on Tuesday 12 December is being organised by AA contemporaries and close friends. Everyone at the AA who knew and loved David is welcome and encouraged to join – to find out more, or to share your memories of David, please email Alex Lorente, Head of Membership, at alex@aaschool.ac.uk.