McQueen nominated for top design award

The late fashion designer Alexander McQueen has been nominated for a top British award.

Mr McQueen, who was found dead at his luxury London home last week in an apparent suicide, is shortlisted for his spring and summer 2010 fashion collection.

The collection, which suggested a "futuristic underwater world", was streamed from a fashion show in Paris live on the internet to 40 million viewers. The shortlist for Brit Insurance Design of the Year was drawn up before Mr McQueen's death, at the age of 40.

Gossip singer Beth Ditto is also shortlisted in the fashion category for her collection for plus-size store Evans.

The awards, which feature Angel of the North sculptor Antony Gormley as chair of the judges, celebrate the most forward-thinking designs of the last 12 months.

Industry experts have nominated international designs across seven categories - transport, fashion, product, graphics, furniture, interactive and architecture. The architecture section include the Raven Row gallery in London and the museum designed by Zaha Hadid in Rome.

The winner will be announced on March 16, with an exhibition celebrating the award at the Design Museum that opened yesterday.

Meanwhile Mr McQueen has been nominated for a top British award. Mr McQueen is shortlisted for his spring and summer 2010 fashion collection.

The shortlist for Brit Insurance Design of the Year was drawn up before Mr McQueen's death.