The iPhone, iPad and BBC logo are among the world's biggest design success stories of the last 25 years – but the work of a former pupil at Hermitage Academy has outshone them all.

Alex McCuaig, the chairman and founder of London-based MET Studio, received the prestigious 'best of the best' accolade at the annual Design Week Awards on June 14.

The prize was given to Alex and his firm for their work on the 'Wired Worlds' exhibition at the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television (now the National Media Museum).

Judges at the 26th Design Week Awards decided the work by Alex and his firm was the very best of all the 'Best in Show' winners over the 25 years of the event – better even than the iconic Apple designs and the famous BBC 'squares' identity.

Alex – whose brother is local athletics hero Angus McCuaig – was presented with his prize at the annual event in London last week.

Alex said: “It's pretty cool, isn't it?

“It's a fantastic achievement and speaks volumes for my whole office.

“When we came off the stage at the awards I'm sure people were thinking 'there's the guys that beat Apple and the BBC', so it's a remarkable accolade.

“We were sitting at the same table as the Apple guys, and I never thought for a moment we were going to beat them – and I'm pretty sure they didn't either.

“The one tragedy is that my father, Archie, wasn't alive to share in it – he died just a couple of months ago, and he would have been so proud.

“The thing I remember most from my time at Hermitage was the teachers who gave me a hard time – but I always knew I was interested in art, architecture and design, and I was always pretty confident that somewhere down the line I would do just fine.”

Alex left Scotland for London at the age of 19, and set up his own studio in 1982.

Now MET Studio has offices in Hong Kong and Mexico as well as its base in London – and Alex is hoping to set up new premises in Dubai too.

The firm's client list over the years has included many instantly-recognisable global companies and brands, including Samsung, Nike, Virgin and Manchester United.

“When MET Studio started life over 30 years ago,” Alex continued, “it was with the singular aim to help give those we worked with a lasting legacy; something that would help to engage, entertain and educate people.

“MET Studio do not do design for design's sake, but through our considered creative approach, in a small way we try to help to change the world for the better.

“Together with the Museum of Photography, Film and TV, winning our industry’s ‘best of the best’ over the past quarter of a century of Design Week Awards, is a wonderful culmination of years of applying this thinking and craft.

“I’m as proud as can be for all of the team.”