26.4.12

Tom Dixon’s Design Talks



Filmed in front of an impressive 1968 Toti submarine by NOWNESS regulars Carlo Lavagna and Roberto De Paolis, industrial design guru Tom Dixon explores the relationship between nationality and creativity with young design stars Lee Broom, La Chance and Noé Duchaufour Lawrance at the world’s largest furniture fair. Now in its 51st year, Salone del Mobile previews the most innovative products fresh from the workshops of the design world. For this latest edition, French lighting and furniture duo Jean-Baptiste Souletie and Louise Breguet, AKA La Chance, curated a 16-designer-strong collection, which included interior architect Lawrance’s innovative Borghese sofa. For his Milan debut, London-based Broom recreated an English boozer in his Public House installation, complete with period paneling. Not to be outdone, Dixon produced a five-building design hub in the National Museum of Science and Technology, aptly named MOST. “There is already a huge shift in Salone from a conventional business-to-business furniture fair into a global marketing carnival,” explains Dixon. Bringing emerging designers together in an interactive and innovative environment, Dixon’s space featured refreshments provided by Yves Behar-designed Soda Streams and a pop up restaurant from Dock Kitchen's Stevie Parle. “MOST came from my love of museums and the dissatisfaction with the types of spaces that we were being offered,” says Dixon. “I felt it was time to take matters into my own hands.