Matthew Hilton (designer)

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Matthew Hilton
RDI
Born(1957-01-31)31 January 1957
Hastings, England
NationalityBritish
EducationPortsmouth College of Art
Alma mater Kingston Polytechnic
Occupation(s) Furniture designer and Industrial designer
Known forBalzac armchair
Website Matthew Hilton

Matthew Hilton RDI (born 1957) is a British industrial designer of modern furniture, lighting, and sculptural works. [1]

Contents

Life and career

Hilton attended Portsmouth College of Art and then Kingston Polytechnic graduating in 1979.[ citation needed ] After graduation he was an industrial designer and model maker until 1984. In 1991, he designed the "Balzac Armchair" [2] for SCP Limited, a company started by Sheridan Coakley in 1985 and now based in Shoreditch, London. Between 2000 and 2004 Hilton was Habitat's head of furniture design. [3] He was elected a Royal Designer for Industry (RDI) in 2005.

In 2013, Hilton designed a watch which was self-produced in small numbers. [4]

Awards and accomplishments

In 2004 Hilton was made a Royal Designer for Industry. RDI is the highest accolade for designers in the UK; only 200 designers can hold the title and non-UK designers may receive the honorary title Hon RDI. Hilton's furniture design work has been called the application of skilled craftsmanship, real materials, and serious integrity. [4] Haute Living magazine described it as incredibly elegant, simple lines and master craftsmanship. [5]

In 2012, Hilton received an honorary doctorate from Kingston University for his contributions to British design. [6] [7]

Examples of Matthew Hilton's works

Rreferences

  1. Gordon, Len (2023-09-10). "Matthew Hilton: Overturning conventional design in a quest for sculptural expression". Art Plugged. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
  2. 1 2 "Balzac chair and footstool". Furniture File, UK. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014.
  3. "Designs on school desks". BBC News. 27 February 2003.
  4. 1 2 Thompson, Henrietta (12 September 2013). "British furniture designer Matthew Hilton's new watch". The Telegraph . Archived from the original on 26 October 2013.
  5. Ross, Nathaniel (19 February 2013). "Interview with Designer Matthew Hilton". Haute Living. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014.
  6. "Honorary degree for top designer Matthew Hilton". Kingston University London. 29 March 2012. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014.
  7. Knight, Amy (May 2012). "Snapshot: Matthew Hilton". World Interiors News: Inside issue 20. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014.
  8. "Eos Garden Furniture".
  9. "Dulwich Extending Table".
  10. "Cross Extending Table".

Further reading