Dezeen Magazine

Tom Dixon unveils double-skin glassware inspired by laboratory equipment

British designer Tom Dixon has created a range of laboratory-style glassware, designed to make the process of preparing hot drinks look like alchemy.

Dixon unveiled the Bump collection at the Masion&Objet furniture fair in Paris, which has taken place across the past week and ends today.

Designed to showcase the process of boiling, steaming and pouring liquid, the collection is based on the types of glassware used in laboratories.

However Dixon wanted to put his own playful spin on these archetypal forms, creating double-skinned designs in shades of grey and pink.

"Inspired by laboratory apparatus, Bump is an exercise in manipulation of the conical, spherical and tubular building blocks that we love to play with, of double-walled glassmaking and a play in transparency and translucence," said the designer.

"With these articles for measuring, brewing, steaming, cooling pouring and preserving, we are exploring the transformative alchemy of curious instruments and chemical reactions."

The pieces are made from borosilicate, a type of glass often used in laboratories as it has a low thermal expansion and is shatter-resistant. They include a jug, tall and short glasses, a tea pot and tea cups, intended to bring a sense of "ritualism" to drinking and hosting.

Dixon, who came in fourth on Dezeen's designers Hot List, is one of the UK's most popular and prolific designers. Self-taught, he rose to fame in the 1980s with the S-Chair for Cappellini and founded his eponymous studio in 2002, and has gone on to design a vast array of products – ranging from washing-up liquid to motorbikes.

Last year, he launched his first collection of office furniture, and continued his US expansion with store openings in both Los Angeles and New York.

Dixon launched Bump at the autumn edition of furniture fair Maison&Objet, which coincides with the city-wide Paris Design Week taking place until 16 September.

Also at the fair, Studio Job presented a collection of furniture shaped like fast food for Italian brand Seletti.