Both as a self-taught designer-maker in early 1980s London and as head of design at the Habitat retail chain, TOM DIXON has combined the creative with the commercial throughout his career.

Tom Dixon fell into design by accident when he found himself with “time on his hands while recovering from a motorcycle accident. As an art school drop-out with no technical training, he taught himself how to become a designer-maker in 1983 after discovering welding when trying to repair his motorbike.

Dixon’s D-I-Y approach to design matched the post-punk mood of the early 1980s. Having made his name – but little money – by making and selling limited editions of his welded furniture - chairs such as the S Chair and Pylon Chair - he launched more commercial ranges and is now World famous for stunning lighting and furniture.