Self-taught industrial designer Tom Dixon knows a thing or two about creating. So much so that he decided an education at the Chelsea College of Art and Design in London wasn’t for him after just six months. He then went on to play bass professionally for two years in a disco and funk band called Funkapolitan before a motorbike accident brought welding into his life. Dixon’s first designs involved turning bulk industrial scrap into metal—his first breakthrough piece, the “S-Chair” was designed while working for the Italian design firm Cappelini in 1985.
Dixon later went on to become the creative director for Habitat, a UK furniture retailer, from 1998-2008, being awarded an OBE in 2000 for services to British Design for his original use of bold materials, bright colors and smooth lines. These days, Tom Dixon furniture and lighting are everywhere; from fully designed restaurants across Europe to new collections spanning 60 countries annually, Tom Dixon is a trailblazer who likes to keep his hands in as many projects as possible, so let’s take a look at some of his groundbreaking and also less known work below.
Copper Brewing Set
Seemingly out of nowhere, Tom Dixon gave us a copper coffee brew set. The set includes every piece one would need to brew, from the French Press to a large tin for storing coffee beans or grounds. The set also includes a set of four espresso cups, a milk pan, brew spoon and stovetop brew container. Dixon chose to go with a copper-plated finish to differentiate between his brass tea set released a few years back.
Flash Table
Originally inspired from his Mirror Ball, this highly versatile piece can act as a coffee table or side table. Dixon’s flash table features a reflective bronze finish along with a brass-coated steel base. The result is a striking metallic surface throughout. You can find the flash available in square or rectangular shapes as well.
Copper Shade
The iconic copper shades display Dixon’s signature vacuum metallization process in lighting design. Prior to Dixon’s copper shade design, vacuum metallization had only been used in the manufacturing of food packaging, insulation and automobile parts. The process involves a thin layer of metal being vaporized at extremely high temperatures and then bonded to the plastic surface via an electrical charge. The result is a revolutionary soft, yet sophisticated lighting piece.
Wingback Chair w/Footstool
Nothing radiates traditional British gentleman-ness than the wingback ottoman and its upholstered footstool counterpart. The great thing about this piece is its ability to stand alone as a footstool or chair, however when the two are combined together it creates the ultimate portrait of comfort, perfect for reading the paper beside the fire or engaging in a stimulating discussion on industrial design influences. All legs are made of oak for a sturdy, long-lasting existence. Available in a wide range of sizes, fabrics and colors, something tells us black is just quite all right with Tom.
