Tom Dixon’s Global Industry @ The Dock

Global Industry at The Dock is an energetic and creative hub for design in Portobello Dock, Ladbroke Grove London – featuring on the spot manufacturing, international entrepreneurialism and commerce Tom Dixon style.

Visitors experienced an original shopping experience, indoor and outdoor installations, exhibitions within a relaxing environment overlooking the Grand Union Canal. International launches included the Tom DixonShop and Moooi showroom. With a select number of diverse brands from across the globe showcasing Tom Dixonedited pieces in this new West London design destination.

Tom said “It used to be the Virgin recording studios and I’m now trying to create some furniture hits !”

Tom Dixon Shop Launched

Tom Dixon Shop showcases extraordinary items for everyday use

Tom Dixon Shop was launched during the Festival. The Shop sells the full Tom Dixon range of lighting and furniture including new pieces from the latest collection, ‘Industry’.

Tom Dixon handpicked a number of designers from around the globe to premier their work at this spectacular space. The extraordinary, eclectic and exclusive selection of work from other international designers and brands selected and curated by Tom were presented in the UK for the first time. The concession brands will alternate quarterly through-out the year to create an energetic and inspiring retail destination.

Please continue on here …. to find out lots more about all the other great activities and presentations which occured at The Dock during London Design Festival, 2010

VIP Party -Wednesday 22nd September

• Over 1,600 attendees

• Sponsored by Veuve Clicquot

• High profile guests included Jade Jagger and Lulu Guinness

• Strong press attendance including Vogue, Sunday Times and Wallpaper*

• Strong architect attendance including representatives from Foster & Partners and Conran.

Tom Dixon hosted a party to celebrate the launch of our new shop and the now permanent Dock Kitchen restaurant during London Design Festival. Drink was kindly sponsored by Veuve Clicquot and guests enjoyed food from rising star, Stevie Parle who served tandoor quail and garam masala icecream on the terrace overlooking the canal.

Press and Architects Day – Thursday 24th September

For London Design FestivalTom Dixon hosted an exclusive roundtable talk in the shop between Tom, Marcel Wanders, Simon Hasan and Piet Hein Eek, chaired by David Nicholls (Design Editor of UK Sunday Telegraph)

The discussion topic was Global Industry and was well attended by 90 International Press and Architects eg New York Times, Abitare and Frame

As part of the event, an informal discussion was hosted between between Tom Dixon and Marcel Wanders and Piet Hein Eek about the issues of the Global Industry.   With two well-known Dutch designers present, it was not surprising that the discussion alighted on the importance (or lack of importance) of national identity – is there such a thing as Dutch design and/or designers? Both Wanders and Eek were quick to stress the individuality of designers. Wanders noted that “design is an international language” and that “design should be something that we bring from ourselves, it (the design) could only have to come from me.” Eek said that he felt that “borders limit ourselves” and that by stereotyping nationalities, we could lose out on designers who do not fit the pattern.

Tom Dixon discussed his Flash Factory project in Milan this April, where Etch lamps were assembled on site by his team. Dixon spoke of how this reflected his theory of how manufacturing will evolve; the improved flexibility of digital machinery will make it increasingly possible to manufacture locally.
Eek recalled his experience working on an assignment to design a series of fair trade products for non-profit organization (Dutch design in Development) in Vietnam. The series of wooden baskets and trays made by artisans who are specialists in this type of wood work, “gave us the opportunity to make something different” and in larger quantities too; normally everything is produced in Eek’s own studio. The conclusion of the panel was that the consumer is now looking to buy less and better quality and that designers needed to catch up to understand the mentality of today’s consumer.

Dealers & Agents Breakfast and Tour – Thursday 23rd September

• Dealer and Agents Breakfast, tour and lunch

• 50 international dealers and agents

• Tom gave a talk and tour of the space introducing the space and the new collection

• Tom with his dog Molly

Flash Factory

Premiering for the first time in the UK is the Tom Dixon Etch collection, a digitally manufactured brass pendant light and candle-holder. Inspired by the logic of pure maths, Etch is made using an industrial process that allows for intricate patterns to be cut directly onto the metal.

For London Design Festival, Etch was made and sold from an assembly line as part of a live Flash Factory inside the Tom Dixon Shop.

Workshop Collaboration: Brompton Bicycles

Tom’s copperised Brompton bike

• Collaboration with British manufacturer Brompton Bicycles to produce a limited edition copper-plated bike.

• The proto-type was displayed in Tom Dixon Shop

• The bike will be available to buy December 2010

“The process involves a base nickel plating to offer a ‘key’ for the thin copper layer on top. Followed by an electrophoretic lacquer coating of all the frame parts to seal the copper finish and add further protection from the elements.”

Collaboration :Les Atelier Ruby helmet

• Collaboration with French luxury accessories brand Les Atelier Ruby to create a limited edition copper plated motorcycle helmet

• The helmet is being sold in the Tom Dixon Shop

• Only 8 helmets are being made

Workshop Collabroation : Simon Hasan

Simon Hasan, who describes his ethos as ‘collectiveness and craft in industrial design’, is in residence in one of the adjoining workshops for the duration of the London Design Festival, showing people how he creates his leather vases. The wetting of the leather allows him to manipulate and mould them into beautiful sculptural forms. When complete, they are eerily akin to lumps of meat, displayed in a retro vending machine.

Tom Dixon with Molly, Rosanna Orlandi, Simon Hasan

Areaware

New York based manufacturer, Areaware are showcasing a collection of playful products ranging from jewellery to pillows created by a group of 16 young designers

Piet Hein Eek

Dutch designer Piet Hein Eek is a pure Imperfectionist – best known for his scrap wood furniture, Eek has made a name for himself by being ecologically responsible and highlighting beauty of material and craftmanship.

Eek doesn’t tout himself as a Green designer but he embraces the ideals of sustainability in his work out of a respect for the environment and commitment to efficiency. Eek is best known for his “Scrapwood” collection of furntiure, in which he uses all bits and pieces of reclaimed wood to create beatiful, sturdy and timeless pieces of furniture.

<sPhaidon Press

Phaidon Press are pleased to announce that Phaidon Store will be joining a host of internationally renowned designers as a concession in the Tom Dixon Shop at The Dock during the London Design Festival (20-26 September).

Phaidon is the world’s leading publisher of books on the visual arts and will be selling a selection of design and architecture titles at the temporary store including the comprehensive Design Classic series.

Dock Kitchen

• Relaunch as a permanent, expanded and re-designed restaurant.

• Fully booked for lunch and dinner all week

• High profile guests included Jay Rayner, Michelle Ogundehin and Robert Downey-Junior

Dock Kitchen is a pop-up restaurant that never popped back down.
Housed in the HQ of furniture maestro Tom Dixon – and with a chef whose talents are matched only by his tousle-haired looks – it was destined to bring some razzle-dazzle to the dusty northern-most border of Portobello

The Dock Kitchen is here to stay! Housed at Portobello Dock – the studio and showroom base for designer Tom Dixon – the restaurant was initially set up as a temporary intervention to make use of the old kitchen space. Its success since launching in September 2009 has now secured its permanent home.

Portobello Dock was originally a Victorian canal dock rubbish interchange, and most recently Richard Branson’s headquarters and recording studios – home to the likes of the Spice Girls, David Bowie, and the Sex Pistols.

Lunch, dinner and tea are served at the renowned Dock Kitchen overlooking the water by head chef Stevie Parle. The kitchen is relaunching as a permanent 80-seater restaurant designed by Design Research Studio. The new concept includes a deli, take-away coffee bar and private dining room.

Tom Dixon secured the staff canteen, which was where the stars were entertained following the signing of their multi-million pound deals.

Dixon wanted to hold onto this heritage so called in the skills of chef Stevie Parle to create an experimental restaurant that would form a base for Stevie to write his first cookbook, and provide a work canteen for Tom Dixon staff.

Stevie is ex-Spotted Pig, ex-River Cafe, and ex-Petersham Nursery. He has lived and cooked in Sri Lanka, New York, Vietnam, and Japan, bringing global influences to the Dock Kitchen.

Bolon and Tom Dixon

Bolon flooring in Tom Dixon’s new office at the Dock

During the London Design Festival 2010, Bolon’s Designer Friend Tom Dixon will launch his first London shop at the Dock. For his new office areas and main staircase in the White Building, Tom Dixon has chosen Bolon flooring.

Tom Dixon first came across Bolon’s products when he as creative director of the 100% Design Show a few years ago was looking for products for the VIP room. For his new office areas and main staircase in the White Building, Tom Dixon has again chosen Bolon flooring, from the new 2010 collections Botanic and Graphic, as well as one of Bolon’s most popular collections NOW.

— We were looking at a super hard-wearing but comfortable finish that was in a metallic – really hard to find! Bolon was the answer, and what’s working really well is the way it reflects light upward from the floor, which was an unexpected bonus, says Tom Dixon

Moooi

Moooi – International design brand Moooi, defined by its CEO and Cofounder Casper Vissers, as ‘a serious company with a smile’ has opened the doors of its first permanent showroom & UK headquarters in London at Portobello Dock. After opening showrooms in Antwerp and Milan earlier in the year the Moooi crew have now sailed to the UK, one of the company’s leading markets, a timely arrival to coincide with the capital’s celebrations for the London Design Festival. The event represents the realisation of the company’s dream.

Made a Mano

Made a Mano Beautiful wall tiles which line the entrance, formed from lava from Mount Etna (by made a mano), set the theme; materials, and the emotions they provoke. Reflective, matt, rough, smooth, subtly-coloured, discreetly-patterned. Expertly selected, a sensual experience.

MyDeco

MYDECO – In an adjoining classical building is a room full of lamps made from a variety of materials, mydeco have devised a simple and highly effective display which makes us question the value of a product and guess its retail source, simply by looking at it. The lure of winning one of the lamps by voting for my favourite tickled my fancy. Plucked from its retail context, would you be able to tell which is the £15 lamp from BHS

Metropolitan Works

Metropolitan Works – A temporary pavilion occupies the terrace showcasing the work of the Metamorphosis new product development award winners from Metropolitan Works

Finally, a product which meets an unglamorous, yet vital need. ‘Mind Dice’ is a 12-sided dice which is aimed at helping people with dementia to communicate with their carers. Currently at prototype stage, it’s designed & developed by John Sprange, who came up with the idea while caring for his father, an Alzheimer’s sufferer, through the last 6 years of his life. John is one of seven designers whose products feature in Metropolitan Works’ canal side tent, winners of a competition which saw 50 designers develop product ideas.

Fine Cell Workshop

A UK charity, Fine Cell Work helps rehabilitate prisoners with the opportunity to rebuild their lives through craft and achievement. Learning skills, prisoners also earn, save money and a sense of personal development – making beautiful things (that sell across the world).