Command and Conquer

British designer Tom Dixon talks about the evolution of his eponymous brand and the importance of new experiences in informing the creative process

Tom Dixon’s unusual journey to becoming a design giant is a well-known story. Completely self-taught, he welded his first pieces of furniture using found objects. In the mid-1980s, he created the iconic S chair for Italian brand Cappellini, catapulting him to fame. After serving as creative director of Habitat for a decade, he founded his eponymous brand in 2002. Known for creating singular designs with a palpable industrial aesthetic, Dixon’s designs—specifically his lighting pieces—have graced many spaces, often serving as the focal point. Naturally, his practice has expanded to include an interior design and architecture arm, Design Research Studio, which has created distinctive spaces across the globe including Jamie Oliver’s Barbecoa restaurant in London and McCann Worldgroup’s offices in New York.

Your brand has been expanding quite rapidly. Which region do you plan to conquer next?