interview with tom dixon, maison et objet's designer of the year 2014

interview with tom dixon, maison et objet’s designer of the year 2014
image © designboom

each year, maison et objet acknowledges an international designer for his / her contribution to the creative industry, and invites him / her to realize an exhibition as part of this recognition. rather than deliver a traditional retrospective of his product portfolio, 2014 designer of the year tom dixon  conceived a site specific installation in the form of ‘the factory’ – a live production line and shop.

‘the factory’ by tom dixon at maison et objet
image © designboom

the underlying motivations behind ‘the factory’ came from dixon’s desire to bring the scent of london to paris. with influences from his interest in british manufacturing evident, the foundations of the live workshop were derived from the british designer’s interest in wanting to explore the rate at which an idea can become something physical and marketable. dixon conceived four different diffusers to deliver the smell of the british capital to the french one, harnessing local materials and manufacturers to realize the collection — from london bricks, to working with one of the last remaining aluminium foundries in london, who is responsible for making the lamp posts for kensington and chelsea.

designboom caught up with tom dixon at maison et objet and spoke to him about his on-site workshop, what he wanted to evoke with ‘the factory’, and his overall perceptions of beauty in regards to the materials which he finds himself working with:

view of ‘the factory’ london scent filling station
image © designboom

general overview of ‘the factory’ at maison et objet 2014
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visitors were invited to concoct their own scents on-site
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what’s that I smell? london?
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the limited edition pieces packaged and ready for sale
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the ‘MUD’ collection of scent diffusers
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london bricks were the main material used to produce the diffusers
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branding and packaging was done on-site
images courtesy of tom dixon

london bricks as scent diffusers
image courtesy of tom dixon

building material or scent diffuser?
image © designboom

‘the factory’ shop
image courtesy of tom dixon