Tom Dixon (industrial designer)
{{Short description|British designer and creative director}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox person/Wikidata|fetchwikidata=ALL|noicon=on|honorific_suffix={{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CBE}}}}
Thomas Dixon {{postnominals|country=GBR|CBE}} (born 21 May 1959 in Sfax, Tunisia) is a self-educated British designer. He is the creative director of the eponymous brand "Tom Dixon", specialising in lighting, furniture, and household accessories. Dixon's collections are shown at events such as the Milan Furniture Fair and the London Design Festival. Dixon also spent 10 years as head of design at Habitat. Through Design Research Studio, he has designed restaurants, clubs and hotels.
His works are in museum collections, including London's Victoria and Albert Museum, the Museum of Modern Art in New York and Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris. In 2001 he was appointed to the OBE for services to British Design.
Career
Prior to becoming a designer, Dixon was the bass guitarist for the band Funkapolitan, "who toured with Rita and Ziggy Marley, the Clash and Simple Minds", and appeared on Top of the Pops.{{Cite news |last=Cooke |first=Rachel |date=2013-06-22 |title=Tom Dixon: 'I design for longevity, and I want something to be anti-fashion' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2013/jun/23/tom-dixon-dixonary-design-inspiration-interview |access-date=2024-06-24 |work=The Observer |language=en-GB |issn=0029-7712}}{{Cite web |date=2019-04-05 |title=Tom Dixon Is Too Punk Rock for You |url=https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/tom-dixon-fat-collection-tour |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=Architectural Digest |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Tom Dixon and Brad Shellhammer Come Together to Form a Rock Band of Well-Designed Proportions |url=https://www.core77.com/posts/26304/Tom-Dixon-and-Brad-Shellhammer-Come-Together-to-Form-a-Rock-Band-of-Well-Designed-Proportions |access-date=2024-06-24 |website=Core77 |language=en}} In 1981 the band supported The Clash on their US Tour.{{Cite web |last=Radio |first=N. T. S. |title=Funkapolitan {{!}} Discover music on NTS |url=http://www.nts.live/artists/15142-funkapolitan |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=NTS Radio |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=The Clash Live 1981 |url=http://www.blackmarketclash.co.uk/Pages/Gigs/The%20Clash/1981-The-Clash-Live/1981-gigs.html |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=www.blackmarketclash.co.uk}}
A series of motorbike accidents and a broken arm led Dixon to experiment with welding and designing welded products.{{Cite web |last=Khan |first=Zohra |date=18 December 2023 |title="Tom Dixon: Metalhead" peeks into 40 years of the self-taught British designer's practice |url=https://www.stirpad.com/news/stir-news/tom-dixon-metalhead-peeks-into-40-years-of-the-self-taught-british-designer-s-practice/ |access-date=2024-01-23 |website=www.stirpad.com |language=en}} Dixon became increasingly well known in the mid-1980s and was described as "the talented untrained designer with a line in welded salvage furniture".{{cite news |title=Tom Dixon |url=https://interiordesign.net/designwire/tom-dixon/ |work=Interior Design |date=January 1, 2016}} In 1994, Dixon established his own shop, 'Space'.{{Cite book |last=Cresswell |first=Lesley |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w0aaizDrfysC&dq=tom+dixon+space&pg=PA127 |title=Graphic with Materials Technology |date=2004 |publisher=Heinemann |isbn=978-0-435-75768-7 |language=en}} It became a creative think-tank for Dixon and other young designers such as Michael Young, Thomas Heatherwick, and Michael Anastassiades, who worked with Dixon during this period.{{Cite web |last=Tsai |first=Florence |title=Industrial Designer Michael Young Sets His Sights On China |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/florencetsai/2022/08/11/industrial-designer-michael-young-sets-his-sights-on-china/ |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=Forbes |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Dawood |first=Sarah |date=2018-03-05 |title=Tom Dixon: "I never planned to be a designer – I just liked fixing things" |url=https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/5-11-march-2018/tom-dixon-planned-designer-liked-fixing-things-design-indaba/ |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=Design Week |language=en-UK}}
By the late 1980s, he was collaborating with Italian design impresario Giulio Cappellini, whose company manufactures and distributes designs such as Dixon's S-Chair.{{Cite web |title=S-Chair, TOM DIXON |url=https://www.cappellini.com/ww/en/products/s-chair.html#s-chair_241159 |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=www.cappellini.com}}{{Cite web |last=Rushton |first=Susie |date=2007-09-11 |title=Design: Ahead of the curve |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/property/interiors/design-ahead-of-the-curve-464164.html |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=The Independent |language=en}}
In 1996, Dixon launched a new product line, Eurolounge and became well known for Jack, a polyethylene "sitting, stacking, lighting thing".[http://designmuseum.org/design/tom-dixon designmuseum.org (British Council)] Retrieved 10 May 2011{{Cite web |title=Tom Dixon |url=https://www.modip.ac.uk/exhibitions/spotlight/spotlight-designers/tom-dixon |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=Museum of Design in Plastics |language=en}} In 1993 he was part of "In the Swim. Eine Ausstellung kreativen Designs der British European Design Group", organized by Helmut Diez in Bremerhaven, Germany.{{cite book |last1=Phillips |first1=Karin-Beate |last2=Farrelly |first2=Liz |last3=Diez |first3=Helmut |title=In the Swim. Eine Ausstellung kreativen Designs der British European Design Group. Ausstellung im Design Labor Bremerhaven vom 2. Mai bis 30. Juni 1993. |date=1993 |publisher=Blueprint |location=London}} The show was described in Der Spiegel as the "greatest exhibition of British furniture design of the 20th century".{{cite web |title=Helmut Diez |url=https://ninatokenplace.com/creator/19 |website=NINA Digital Art Gallery}}"größte Werkschau britischer Möbeldesigner des 20. Jahrhunderts" ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x93MTvwpG9o Sonntagsmagazin], ARD 1993-05-05, KulturBuffet, N3, Gerd Röhlke, Jürgen Schöffel: Visions in the swim and VOX (features)).
Dixon became head of design at Habitat in 1998{{cite book |last1=Châtel |first1=Francesca de |last2=Hunt |first2=Robin |title=Retailisation: The Here, There and Everywhere of Retail |date=2 August 2004 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-135-47608-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lrpcNddrETcC&dq=tom+dixon+habitat&pg=PT138 |language=en}} and later became Creative Director. He credits Habitat with enabling him to learn the business side of design.{{cite news |title=A Retrofuturespective: 20 Years of Tom Dixon Studio |url=https://www.lumens.com/the-edit/the-makers/20-years-of-tom-dixon-studio/ |work=The Edit |publisher=Lumens |date=6 July 2022}} He publicly represented a collective team responsible for rejuvenating the Habitat brand. Dixon left Habitat in 2008.{{cite news |title=Tom Dixon: Free spirit |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/tom-dixon-free-spirit-926738.html |work=The Independent |date=13 September 2008}}
In 2002 Dixon established his personal brand, "Tom Dixon",{{Cite web |last=Mun-Delsalle |first=Y.-Jean |title=One Of The UK's Most Celebrated Designers, Tom Dixon Brings The Factory To The Consumer |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/yjeanmundelsalle/2022/02/01/british-designer-and-entrepreneur-tom-dixon-brings-the-factory-to-the-consumer/ |access-date=2024-01-23 |website=Forbes |language=en}} basing the company in Kings Cross, London. In 2004 Dixon worked with Proventus, a Swedish private investment company, to create Design Research, a holding company for design and product development.{{cite web
|url = http://www.tomdixon.net/history
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120512114947/https://www.tomdixon.net/history
|url-status = dead
|archive-date = 12 May 2012
|title = Tom Dixon History
|publisher = Tom Dixon
|access-date = 3 January 2014
}} Tom Dixon brand collections of lighting and furniture have been launched regularly at the Milan Furniture Fair{{Cite web |date=2022-06-09 |first=Cajsa |last=Carlson |title=Underwater furniture features in Tom Dixon's exhibition Twenty |url=https://www.dezeen.com/2022/06/09/underwater-furniture-mycelium-towers-tom-dixon-exhibition-twenty/ |access-date=2024-06-30 |website=Dezeen |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Wallis |first=Stephen |date=2012-03-31 |title=Tom Dixon's MOST Event in Milan |url=https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/tom-dixon-most-milan-furniture-fair |access-date=2024-06-30 |website=Architectural Digest |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Madlener|first=Adrian |date=2023-04-25 |title=Squishy Tables and Light Shows: An Insider's Look at a Refreshed Salone del Mobile, the World's Top Design and Furniture Fair |url=https://news.artnet.com/market/salone-del-mobile-milan-design-week-2023-2290005 |access-date=2024-06-30 |website=Artnet News |language=en-US}} and at the London Design Festival.{{cite news |title=7 things to see at London Design Festival 2023 |url=https://www.iconeye.com/design/5-to-see-london-design-festival-2023 |work=ICON Magazine |date=19 September 2023}}{{cite news |first=Melissa |last=Feldman |title=See Highlights from This Year's London Design Festival |url=https://galeriemagazine.com/london-design-festival-2023/ |work=Galerie |date=28 September 2023}} In 2012 the company launched its first accessories range at Maison et Objet, Paris.{{Cite web |last=Treggiden |first=Katie |date=2012-01-31 |title=Trends at Maison & Objet 2012 |url=https://design-milk.com/trends-at-maison-objet-2012/ |access-date=2024-06-30 |website=Design Milk |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Cohen Blatter |first=Lucy |date=July 13, 2020 |title=British Designer Says 'You Need to Stick Out to Survive' |url=https://www.mansionglobal.com/articles/british-designer-says-you-need-to-stick-out-to-survive-217354 |work=Mansion Global}} The company's products are sold internationally in 65 countries.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}
File:Ngv design, tom dixon, pylon chair, 1991.JPG
In 2007 Dixon expanded his West London Studio by creating the Design Research Studio for interior and architectural design.{{Cite web |title=Ever the innovator |url=https://www.pirelli.com/global/en-ww/life/innovation/technology/ever-the-innovator-50565/ |access-date=2024-06-30 |website=www.pirelli.com |language=it}} Design Research Studio has designed high-end restaurants such as Jamie Oliver’s London restaurant, Barbecoa{{cite web |title=Restaurant: Barbecoa, St Pauls. |url=http://www.londondesignguide.com/2010/11/restaurant-barbecoa-st-pauls/ |access-date=3 January 2014 |publisher=London Design Guide}} and Restaurant at The Royal Academy in London.{{cite web
|url=http://www.dezeen.com/2011/02/02/restaurant-at-the-royal-academy-by-tom-dixon/
|title=Restaurant at The Royal Academy by Tom Dixon
|date=2 February 2011
|publisher=Dezeen
|access-date=3 January 2014}} It also created the private members' club Shoreditch House in East London for the Soho House group.{{Cite web |last=Fairs |first=Marcus |date=2007-07-16 |title=Shoreditch House by Tom Dixon |url=https://www.dezeen.com/2007/07/16/shoreditch-house-by-tom-dixon/ |access-date=2024-06-30 |website=Dezeen}} In 2014, Design Research Studio completed their first hotel project, redesigning Sea Containers House for the Morgans Hotel Group.{{cite web
|url=http://www.designweek.co.uk/news/tom-dixon-to-turn-sea-containers-house-into-mondrian-hotel/3034199.article
|title=Tom Dixon To Turn Sea Containers House Into Mondrian Hotel
|date=13 March 2012
|publisher=Design Week
|access-date=3 January 2014}} In 2016, Dixon and Revolution Precrafted developed a design for a prefabricated house, aptly named HOME.{{cite web |url=https://revolutionprecrafted.com/project/home-by-tom-dixon/ |title=HOME BY TOM DIXON {{!}} Revolution Pre-Crafted Properties |website=revolutionprecrafted.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151213094055/http://revolutionprecrafted.com/project/home-by-tom-dixon |archive-date=2015-12-13}}
In 2017, the first Tom Dixon textile collection was launched, named Super Texture, featuring three sets of cushions. Two of the three cushions were commissioned from British textile artist Josephine Ortega{{Cite web |last=Yang |first=Vy |date=2018-02-12 |title=Tom Dixon Adds New Ranges and Colors to the SUPER TEXTURE Textiles Collection |url=https://design-milk.com/tom-dixon-adds-new-ranges-colors-super-texture-textiles-collection/ |access-date=2022-09-26 |website=Design Milk |language=en}} – Paint and Abstract. Her sets were urban-inspired, with bright colors and varying textures. A third set, Geo, used hand and machine embroidery to create the impression of layered rocks and sediment.{{cite web |last=Wing-Sze |first=Lee |date=26 Jan 2018 |title=Tom Dixon launches first textile collection |url=http://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/2130185/tom-dixon-launches-first-textile-collection |access-date=31 Jan 2018 |website=South China Morning Post}}
In 2025, Dixon was among 35 UK designers to sign a letter to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology secretary Peter Kyle urging the government to reconsider its plans to allow artificial intelligence companies to train their models on copyrighted works without permission.{{cite news |last=Milmo |first=Dan |date=31 March 2025 |title=Designers say plans for UK copyright law risk ‘running roughshod’ over sector |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/mar/31/designers-uk-copyright-law-ai-letter |access-date=2 April 2025 |website=The Guardian}}
Dixon's work is included in collections such as the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the National Museums Liverpool in the UK; the Vitra Design Museum in Germany, M+ in Hong Kong; and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and New York's Museum of Modern Art in the US.{{cite web|url=https://www.houseology.com/brands/tom-dixon|title=Tom Dixon|last=Dixon|first=Tom|date=8 February 2019|website=Houseology|access-date=8 February 2019}}{{Cite web |title=Pylon Chair |url=https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/artifact/pylon-chair |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=National Museums Liverpool}}{{Cite web |title=Dixon, Tom |url=https://www.sfmoma.org/artist/tom-dixon/ |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=SFMOMA |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=S-Chair (1988) – Tom Dixon {{!}} Objects {{!}} M+ |url=https://www.mplus.org.hk/en/collection/objects/s-chair-2016354/ |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=www.mplus.org.hk |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=S-Chair, 1987, Tom Dixon |url=http://collectiononline.design-museum.de/#/en/object/36136?_k=mmxl2s |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=Vitra Design Museum}}{{Citation |last=Dixon |first=Tom |title=S Chair |date=1987 |url=https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O63050/s-chair-chair-dixon-tom/ |access-date=2024-06-20 |publisher=Victoria and Albert Museum}}
Awards
In 2001 Dixon was appointed an OBE for services to British Design.{{cite web
|url=http://www.debretts.com/people/biographies/browse/d/19995/Tom+DIXON.aspx
|title=Tom Dixon, Esq, OBE
|publisher=Debretts
|access-date=10 May 2011}}
He holds Honorary Doctorates from Birmingham City University (2004) and University of the Arts London (2007).{{cite web |title=Doctorates for Dixon and Ive |date=10 May 2007 |url=http://www.designweek.co.uk/news/doctorates-for-dixon-and-ive/1134789.article |access-date=3 January 2014 |publisher=Design Week}}
He was made a CBE in King Charles III's 2025 New Year Honours list.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-02 |title=Tom Dixon, Peter Clegg and Neville Brody recognised in New Year's Honours |url=https://www.dezeen.com/2025/01/02/tom-dixon-peter-clegg-neville-brody-new-years-honours/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |website=Dezeen}}
Publications
- The Interior World of Tom Dixon (2008) Octopus Publishing Group. {{ISBN|978-1-84091-519-8}}, {{ISBN|978-1-84091-519-8}}
- Dixonary (2013) Violette Editions. {{ISBN|978-1-900828-42-0}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Tom Dixon}}
- {{Official website}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dixon, Tom}}
Category:British industrial designers
Category:British furniture designers
Category:Articles containing video clips