Roger Tallon Aluminium 'Helicoid' Staircase, 1960s

Roger Tallon was a French Industrial designer. After studying as an engineer (1944–50), Tallon was employed by Caterpillar France and DuPont. In 1953, he joined Technès, the technical and aesthetic studies office founded in 1949 by the father of industrial aesthetics, Jacques Viénot and Jean Parthenay. Being rapidly promoted to the technical and artistic director at the agency, he became the sole director after Viénot's death in 1959. In 1957, he enrolled at the École des Arts Appliqués (School of Applied Arts) in Paris and put in place the first design course in the country. In 1963, he set up the Design Department of the École Nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs in Paris. As a consultant for the US company General Electric, Tallon designed refrigerators and washing machines and set up the Design Department of the American company. In 1966, the Téléavia P111 portable television was put on the market against the advice of the Board. It broke the mould of TV design and was a commercial success with a cult following. In 1973, Tallon set up agency Design Programmes. Brother-in-arms with the LIP watchmakers, he created the Mach 2000 brand of watches and chronometers. In 1974, with Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, he created a concept aircraft cabin for Air France. After leaving Euro RSCG, he continued to work independently. Tallon died on 20th October 2011, after a long period of sickness.