Eric Austen

Eric Austen (3 November 1922 – 1 July 1999) was an English designer and teacher, and played a part in the creation of the well-known ND symbol, as used, among others, by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND).

[1] During the Second World War Austen, who was a pacifist, was exempted from military service as a conscientious objector, and worked for the Forestry Commission.

[1] After the war he taught in primary school, then studied at the University of London, Institute of Education while teaching at Southlands College (1964–1972).

These earliest badges were made in ceramic (fireclay) – which Austen noted would mean they could be among the very few man-made objects to survive a nuclear inferno.

Austen is quoted as saying of the design: "the gesture of despair had long been associated with the death of Man and the circle with the unborn child.