Tom Dixon instigates an impressive line-up of exhibits at the Museum of Science and Technology in Milan. Rachel Lee-Leong brings you the highlights.
April 10th, 2013

After last year’s fantastic showing at the Museum of Science and Technology (MOST), Tom Dixon returns again this year during Milan Design Week for the second time running. As in the previous year, not only does he present products both new and old under his eponymous brand, he also invites other designers and design outfits to occupy the Olivetan-monastery-turned-museum amidst ship relics and retired steam trains.

Base Copper Table Light by Tom Dixon
Tom Dixon
The first exhibition at MOST, Tom Dixon takes visitors on a journey through the production process with new products displayed within a warehouse set-up – wooden crates, conveyor belts and forklifts included – before finally entering a slick, shiny showroom. It all points to the contrasting ideas of roughness and smoothness that the brand explored this year.

Mass Dining Table by Tom Dixon
Taking the idea of traditional English tea, Tom Dixon set up a tea house (below) with lamps from the collection and tableware from the Eclectic range.

Traditional English tea given a Tom Dixon Spin with items from the Eclectic range
Tom Dixon x Adidas
The Capsule, designed by Tom Dixon for Adidas, takes packing to extremes with its everything-you-can-pack-neatly-in-a-bag-for-a-week-away concept. The collection was aptly shown within the train depot, replete with intermittently released steam and the sound of chugging train engines.

Tom Dixon for Adidas
Glass is Tomorrow
A European project that showcases the highest level of craft in contemporary glass design and making, Glass is Tomorrow sees over 60 glass prototypes made by various designers including Werner Aisslinger, Sebastian Herkner and Alfredo Häberli. These have been made in collaboration with three workshops in Finland, the Czech Republic and France.

Glass is Tomorrow – Assorted Designers
Tokyo Bussanten
Japanese design and living sensibilities come to the fore in this exhibition by design direction company Tokyo Bussanten. Torafu Architects (of the famed Air Vases) have designed a ‘Koloro-desk’ which 10 different designers have used as a vehicle to express their unique view of the world.

Tokyo Bussanten – ‘Koloro-desk’
Stellar Works
Among the furniture on show at Stellar Works, its presentation of Indigo leather was perhaps most delightful. In magnificent shades of blue, the leather uses traditional dyeing techniques that lead to the vibrant colours.

Indigo leather by Stellar Works
Tolix
French sheet-metal company Tolix takes a page from the architecture master’s colour palette as it follows the colour keyboard of Le Corbusier.

Tolix
Lensvelt
In typical Studio Job fashion, irreverence and irony come into the picture in its latest collaboration with Lensvelt. The brand launches four products by Studio Job within the awe-inspiring fresco room at MOST.

Studio Job for Lensevit
INDESIGN is on instagram
Follow @indesignlive
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Sydney’s newest design concept store, HOW WE LIVE, explores the overlap between home and workplace – with a Surry Hills pop-up from Friday 28th November.
Merging two hotel identities in one landmark development, Hotel Indigo and Holiday Inn Little Collins capture the spirit of Melbourne through Buchan’s narrative-driven design – elevated by GROHE’s signature craftsmanship.
Inspired by the regenerative role of lichen communities in our ecosystems, the Lichen Community collection proposes a new future for workplace flooring.
For their 30th year at the event, Pedrali steals the show with products inspired by architecture, art and the theatre.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
Designing for movement is not just about mechanics and aesthetics, it is about creating spaces that move with us, support wellbeing, and integrate responsible material choices.
CBRE’s new Sydney workplace elevates the working life and celebrates design that is all style and sophistication.