Self-taught British designer Tom Dixon, OBE, is a specialist in lighting, furniture and accessories and Creative Designer of the Tom Dixon brand. Born in Tunisia in 1959 Dixon grew up in London and as an art school drop-out with no technical training taught himself how to become a designer in the early 1980's after discovering welding whilst trying to repair his motorbike.

After spending some time playing bass guitar in the band Funkapolitan, Tom Dixon rose to prominence in the mid 1980s as a renowned "talented untrained designer with a line in welded salvage furniture." By the late 1980s, he was working for the Italian giant Cappellini for whom he designed the Iconic ‘S’ chair.

The 1990s saw Dixon establish his name further by making and selling limited editions of his welded furniture including the S Chair and Pylon Chair as well as Jack, the polythylene "sitting, stacking, lighting thing" designed for his own company Eurolounge. A career turning point occurred in 1998 when Dixon was appointed head of design by Habitat and later became Creative Director until 2008. He proved an invaluable part of a collective team responsible for rejuvenating the Habitat brand.

In 2007 Dixon launched Design Research Studio, an interior and architectural design studio. High profile projects include the Restaurant at The Royal Academy in London, Jamie Oliver's London restaurant Barbecoa as well as the renowned creative hub Shoreditch House.

Tom Dixon Copper Pendant Light

His work has been acquired by museums across the globe including the Victoria and Albert Museum, Museum of Modern Art New York and Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris. In 2002 Dixon established his eponymous brand which now launches new collections of lighting and furniture bi-annually at the Milan international furniture fair and at London Design Festival, with the company’s products sold internationally in 65 countries.

Some of Tom Dixon's best designs include the luxurious Mirror ball pendant light, which is available in both silver and gold and is a timeless yet contemporary design. To add ambience to any room the Etch candle holders are a gorgeous accessory. Inspired by the logic of pure mathematics, they feature a detailed pattern that creates a mass of intricate shadows when the candle is lit.

New designs that have recently launched and are available at Utility now include the new cobalt blue Wingback chair with its copper legs, as well as innovative lighting in the form of the Beat light - now available in new colours. A family of light fittings that are inspired by traditional Indian craftsmanship and made from hand-beaten brass, the Beat range is now available in brass, white and grey.

Tom Dixon Void Surface Light

The Melt light is a stunning distorted globe-like fixture available in copper, gold and chrome. A product of Dixon's collaboration with Swedish radical design collective FRONT, the Melt lights have proven hugely popular since their launch in Milan. The Cog light family is also a nod to the current trend of vintage industrial style lighting, with its brass-plated urban raw appeal.

Tom Dixon Melt Pendant Light 

Discover more of Tom Dixon's unique designs at Utility now.

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