The "Jack", by Tom Dixon

Expression

When you go on Tom Dixon's website and look for any of the three members of the Jack family, you will notice that they're part of the category “furniture”. That may be the best word to define them, because, as furniture, they're not limited to one function. Indeed, you can see it just as an accessory to decorate your house, due to its unusual shape. But your Jack can be delivered with or without a light, which, in the case when you choose the option “with light”, makes it a lamp, to put a little light in your living room, with style. You may also use it as a seat, yes it IS on the website. I personally have doubts about this being used as a chair, because it is in plastic and its shape does not seem very adapted for seating on it. Nevertheless Mr. Dixon considers it to be a possible seat. Finally, in my opinion, the shape of the Jack is its biggest asset. We see on that web page that it allows to do combinations, because it looks a bit like a part of a puzzle, which is asking to go along with its friends. That allows you to create your own lamp, your own accessory. On the other side, its shape might be considered as neutral, as it does not “lock” the Jack in one category, it enables it to get those various uses. So, there is no compulsory way to use a Jack.

Signification

However, the Jack goes far beyond those various uses, far beyond being just a furniture. It is, indeed, the first creation of Tom Dixon, it symbolizes the beginning of what can be considered today as a successful career, given that Dixon just finished the construction of the new restaurant of the British Royal Academy of Arts. The fact that he proposes today a re-edition of the Jack, in several colors, shows that this object has a particular importance in his work. I will continue on what I said on the expression part: I said that it had various uses. This multi-functionality was the main meaning wanted by Dixon. When he was asked to define it, he talked about a “sitting, stacking, lighting thing“. That really illustrate his will to design an object that would evolve, adapt, transform itself, instead of being stuck in one category like most objects. Also, when the Jack was first launched, in 1994, Dixon wanted it to have a special meaning in the market of design. It used the process of rotary moulding, which enabled it to be produced on a large scale. Indeed, the “Jack” was designed and mass-produced to show that English industrial manufacturing was not dead. That gives him a particular signification among other creations of designers. As for its shape, I don't know if Mr. Dixon chose it for reasons others that the possibility of having more uses, but when I look at it, it really reminds me of a molecule, like the models that chemistry teachers used to show us.