David Mellor: Steel and Light celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of the designer's seminal cutlery range Symbol, alongside the centenary of stainless steel, which was developed in Mellor's hometown of Sheffield.

David Mellor, Royal Designer for Industry, was best known for his cutlery and metalwork design, but also worked on other design projects, such as redesigning the national traffic light system in the 1960s. Born in Sheffield, he began his metalwork training at Sheffield College of Art, one of Sheffield Hallam University's founding colleges. He was also awarded an honorary doctorate from the University.

The exhibition will take visitors on a journey, using drawings, photographs, animations and film to tell the story of David Mellor's early career, starting withSymbol, Mellor's first mass-produced cutlery design, and UK's first purpose designed modern stainless steel cutlery.

The decade of David Mellor's design after Symbol will outline his singular vision where traditional craftsmanship met Modernism in design, and will also include the story of him establishing his own factory in Sheffield. The exhibition will also look at Mellor's legacy and his company today.

The exhibition will also feature a walking map of Sheffield, with visitors being able to take a self-guided tour of David Mellor's Sheffield. They will be able see some of his designs in situ and can also visit some of the key places in the history of David Mellor Design.

Professor Roger Eccleston, Pro Vice Chancellor for Sheffield Hallam University explains:"David Mellor was a Sheffielder through and through, and we are proud to celebrate this globally recognised designer, who started his journey at one of our founding colleges.

"The story of the exhibition is not just about David Mellor, it is also a story of a city and industry recovering from the impact of the second world war and absorbing the impact of the modern - from the Festival of Britain through to the swinging sixties. This is a story of social and economic change that led David to respond creatively to new eating habits influenced by continental travel and aspirational lifestyle marketing."

Corin Mellor, Creative Director of David Mellor Design says:"We are extremely pleased to be working with an institution like Sheffield Hallam University on an exhibition celebrating the work of my father.  Innovation and excellence in design have always been key parts of Sheffield’s history.  As manufacturing techniques evolve and materials improve it is now more important than ever that design comes to the fore. It is vital we recognise the value of good design and inspire new generations of designers."