Designer Guides
Designer Profiles
Tom Dixon
The eponymous British design house of Tom Dixon have been designing and manufacturing high end contemporary furniture since 2002. Whilst the principle designer behind the company has been experimenting and producing items since the 1980's, the company that bears his name is a relative newcomer to the market. Regardless of any seeming inexperience, Tom Dixon has quickly established itself as one of the most preeminent and forward-thinking design houses in contemporary circles.
Tom Dixon himself is no newcomer to the world of furniture design. He's been a creative director with fashionable high street store Habitat since 2001 - having previously been made Head of UK Design in 1998 before becoming International Design Head a year later - and designing his own furniture for over two decades; initially making a splash with the fantastic 'S Chair' developed by renowned Italian manufacturers Cappellini in 1989.
Modern Style with Traditional Values
The modern collection boasts an eclectic mix of design styles and furniture types; however the core values of function and ingenuity remain prevalent throughout. Pinpointing a highlight in such a varied collection is understandably difficult; however possibly the most popular and iconic are the Mirror Balls. These plastic polycarbonate lamps come in all shapes and varieties, including table, floor, standing and of course pendant lamps. Finished in chrome, these beguiling mirrored shades offer a clear reflection, beaming light throughout the room.
Bold Modern Light Fittings
Lighting continues to be an integral part of the Tom Dixon collection; featuring as it does the Punch table and pendant lights, Cone and Beat hanging lights, the Twist, Pipe and Fat Spot lamps and the fantastic Base lamp for good measure. Each of these intriguing designs is a truly unique feature, incomparable to others within the collection and beyond. Not only do they perform their own individual functions, but they do so with an unmistakably eye-catching contemporary lighting design. Lightweight, designed by Tom Dixon for Foscarini is another example of stunning architectural structure being combined with a practical furnishing; much like a refined version of his earlier work using scrap metal.
Elegant Comfort & Refinement
Seating is another key par of the Tom Dixon range. They famously displayed a collection of their Rubber Band chairs as part of a special installation - although not as part of the equally show-stopping installation of expanded polystyrene seats that covered the Square in 2006, before being given away to the public. Made from a series of compacted rubber bands, this chair is a distinctive and even slightly humorous addition to the range; offering the Tom Dixon standards of style and comfort in equal measure.
Moving to the very top-end of their current crop of modern furniture pieces we find the awe-inspiring Wing Back Chair. Ergonomically and stylistically impressive, this simple, refined chair isn't perhaps the brashest contemporary chair, however it is still one of the most striking. High backed with a flowing curved shape and short legs make this seat a practical and comfortable addition to the modern home or workplace.
Unique Modern Design
Sculpted from molten polymer plastic and moulded into a range of rough shapes to form an asymmetrical mass, the Fresh Fat Easy Chair provides a remarkable spectacle. Nothing else currently available can compare to the sheer ingenuity of this translucent piece; with a smooth yet uneven form and its random light reflections, it contradicts much of what traditional furniture design represents, whilst still offering a fully functional piece.
Rounding off the collection in the same inimitable style is Tom Dixon's selection of tables. The modular Slab Table is a master of disguise; ingeniously crafted, this shape-shifting designer piece can morph into a range of states to suit changing individual requirements. Whilst the Slab Dining Table offers a larger, sturdier piece of furniture, perfect for entertaining at dinner parties.
