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.

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