About Tom
 
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Tom Dixon's appointment as Head of the UK design studio at the furniture retailer Habitat in 1998 was considered controversial. He came from a self-employed background instead of a corporate culture and was never considered "establishment". Launched by Sir Terence Conran and arguably the greatest influence on the British perspective on modern design, Habitat had more recently lost its way. Dixon led the company through its biggest makeover and quickly won recognition by becoming Head of International Design in 1999 and Creative Director in 2001 before his departure in 2008.
Dixon's furniture had always been elitist, even though this had never been his intention. Habitat, as a major international outlet, fulfilled a lifetime ambition to make good design available to everyone.
"My friends and acquaintances were horrified. I would have my creativity compromised ...I would be entering a stifling world of corporate politics. For me, however, it was as though I had a giant toy box....all the manufacturing techniques in the world from basket work to injection moulding. Everything for the home to design .. from cuddly toys to bunk beds, forty countries of origin, 85 shops. Everything at normal everyday prices! There was no other job like it in Europe! I went from maverick to high street overnight." |
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