Mid-century lighting by British designer Tom Dixon

Tom Dixon was born on 21 May 1959 in Sfax, Tunisia to a French/Latvian mother and an English father. He is a self-taught British designer, best known as the Creative Director of the eponymous brand 'Tom Dixon', which specializes in the design of lighting, furniture and accessories. Dixon's work is known for its bold and innovative use of materials and forms, as well as its eclectic mix of influences from around the world.

He moved to England at the age of four and spent his school years in London. He dropped out of Chelsea School of Art to play bass in the band Funkapolitan, before teaching himself welding and going on to produce furniture. Dixon's early designs were often made from salvaged materials and were characterized by their raw and industrial aesthetic. He quickly gained a reputation for his bold and original work, and in 1989 more... he was commissioned by the Italian furniture company Cappellini to design the iconic 'S' chair. The chair, made from a single sheet of folded metal, was an instant success and helped to establish Dixon as one of the leading designers of his generation.

In 1998, Dixon was appointed Creative Director of the British furniture chain Habitat. He spent the next ten years transforming the brand, introducing a new range of innovative and stylish products. He also continued to design his own products, which were sold through his own company, Tom Dixon. In 2002, he launched his own flagship store in London's Shoreditch district. The store, which features a mix of Dixon's own designs and products from other designers, quickly became a popular destination for design enthusiasts from all over the world.

Dixon's work has been exhibited in museums and galleries around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. He has also received numerous awards for his work, including the OBE in 2001 and the Designer of the Year award at Maison & Objet in 2014. less...