The Tom Dixon brand is as individual as the man himself. Tom was born in Sfax, Tunisia in 1959 to a French/Latvian mother and an English father, the Dixon family moved to the UK when Tom was aged 4.
With no formal training other than a one-day course in plastic bumper repair, Dixon explored the decorative and structural potential of recycled materials and industrial scrap using his newly acquired welding skills. Dixon’s sculptural objects soon began to gain recognition and commissions and exhibitions followed.
With a growing demand for his objects, Dixon turned his attention to ready-made forms and technology to feed his increased interest in industrial techniques and batch production. He began to design in sheet metal which created a much more minimalist product that was determined by the industrial technique used for production.
Dixon’s reputation for individuality and creativity grew and very soon he was approached by Italian design company, Cappellini. The partnership with Cappellini caused his work to be taken seriously and soon Cappellini were putting some of his designs into production. The ‘S’ chair made Tom Dixon’s name, evolving from early prototypes in his creative salvage days and is now on permanent display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
By 1994 Dixon founded Eurolounge so that he could manufacture and wholesale his own designs. Dixon was now looking at using plastics to create an original lighting range. The first product to come off the production line was the ‘Jack Light’ which received international acclaim and was the first of many innovative and groundbreaking products.
Dixon’s appointment as Head of the UK design studio at Habitat in 1998 was considered by some as controversial. However, he was to prove his critics wrong by leading the furniture retailer, which seemed to have lost its way, through its biggest makeover since its creation and quickly won recognition by becoming Head of International Design in 1999 and Creative Director in 2001. In the midst of this, Dixon was awarded an OBE for services to British Design.
In 2002, Tom Dixon and David Begg started Tom Dixon the company. Since its inception, the company has developed its own collection of contemporary lighting and furniture including the acclaimed Mirror Ball Collection of lights and more recently Copper Shade. Tom Dixon designs have entered the international major league through renowned shows such as the Milan Furniture Fair and the London Design Museum where Tom was nominated for Designer of the Year 2006.
At Icône we are delighted to be able to offer Tom Dixon products and we will continue to increase the range over the coming months and bring you news of new products as they emerge.
