The “Jack” family

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. During an interview, Dixon was asked where he found his inspiration when designing objects. After saying that each object is a different passion, he answered that he has to see a place where he can make the object before this object can exist in his mind, and that sometimes he even learns about some technics he's interested in. The Jack is a good example of this, as it is made with a specific process, rotary-moulding. We can therefore deduce that Dixon adapted his design to the technique, in an attempt to use it differently, to create something unusual. The multi-functionality of the object plays this role as well, it makes it go away from the designs that already existed at the time. Also, when the Jack was first launched, in 1994, Dixon wanted it to have a special meaning in the market of design. The process of rotary-moulding 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. I would like to conclude by giving my personal interpretation of the shape. I don't know if Mr.Dixon thought it that way, but the Jack really reminds me of the fake molecules that chemistry teachers used to show us.