Matthew Hilton (designer)

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

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

Life and career

Hilton attended Portsmouth College of Art and then Kingston Polytechnic graduating in 1979. 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] and his furniture is held in the permanent collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, the Geffrye Museum, London, and the Manchester City Art Gallery. He was elected a Royal Designer for Industry (RDI) in 2005. In 2007 Matthew launched his own brand of furniture and the design studio Matthew Hilton Limited. These furniture designs were eventually licensed to De La Espada, a furniture producer based in Portugal and London specialising in the manufacture of high quality pieces using timber. Matthew Hilton Limited is a small design studio based in London and specialising in the design of furniture and lighting, the team have also designed accessories and carpets and many other domestic products.

In 2013, As well as expanding the work of the studio Hilton designed a watch which was self produced in small numbers.[4]

Awards and accomplishments

In 2004 Matthew 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
  • Balzac Armchair[2] Produced by SCP
  • Light Table, Produced by De La Espada
  • Eos Garden Furniture[8] Produced by Case Furniture
  • Dulwich Extending Dining Table[9] Produced by Case Furniture
  • Cross Extending Dining Table[10] Produced by Case Furniture

Notes and references
Specific
  1. Gordon, Len (2023-09-10). "Matthew Hilton: Overturning conventional design in a quest for sculptural expression". Art Plugged. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
  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. 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
  • McDermott, Catherine (2000) Matthew Hilton: Furniture for our Time Geffryre Museum, Lund Humphries Publishers, London, ISBN 0-85331-807-7
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