Tom Dixon is one of the people who inspire us at Connox. He's the alchemist among designers: he loves playing with fire, metal and industrial weight. But while his iconic lights have long been found in some of the world's most stylish lobbies, his products have so far mostly stayed indoors.
Last year, Tom Dixon made his long-awaited outdoor debut with the Groove series. And as you'd expect from him, it's no quiet entrance but a real statement in solid aluminium.
The key points at a glance:
- A decade of patience: why good things take time
- The legacy of the Hydro Chair: from experiment to series
- The magic of the grooves: weight that feels soft
- Design with a clear conscience: the circular philosophy
- Why Groove fits into your life
1. A decade of patience: why good things take time
In a world of fast furniture, it comes almost as a shock to hear that this collection is the result of more than ten years of development. Dixon didn't simply design a chair for outdoors; he spent a decade researching how to make his love of monumental forms weatherproof.
The journey was the destination: from working with the Norwegian aluminium specialist Hydro to perfecting the CNC milling technique, in which the aluminium is machined at high cutting speeds with minimal heat build-up, so it keeps its surface quality.
The result is a series so robust that it can last for generations.
2. The legacy of the Hydro Chair: from experiment to series
The real turning point in this ten-year journey came in 2021 with the Hydro Chair. In collaboration with Hydro, Dixon created a limited-edition work of art that was "inflated" using techniques from the automotive industry.
This chair was the technological laboratory for everything we see and love in the Groove series today. It was radical proof that solid aluminium can be not only recyclable but also sculptural.
While the Hydro Chair remained an exclusive collector's piece, Groove is now the commercial refinement of this adventure – ready for your garden.
3. The magic of the grooves: weight that feels soft
The most notable feature, of course, is the deep vertical indentations – the "grooves". But don't be fooled by the solid look of the aluminium. When you run your hand over the surface, something surprising happens:
Although it's hard metal, the precise ribbed structure creates an almost textile feel. It feels almost warm and organic, like a heavy corduroy cast in metal. This tactile experience is typical Dixon: he defies expectations and turns a cool, industrial material into a sensual object.
4. Design with a clear conscience: the circular philosophy
Dixon is no fan of throwaway products. His vision of luxury is inseparable from circularity. For him, sustainability isn't a trend but a question of material logic.
In an interview with us, he summed up his philosophy:
"You can […] make sure that a product's impact on the environment is as low as possible, that it's well made and durable in style and construction. I believe in sustainability through quality." – Tom Dixon
Read the full interview with Tom Dixon here: "It's impossible to get bored as a designer."
The Groove series is made of aluminium, which is not only extremely durable and corrosion-resistant, but can also be recycled again and again. Even the powder coating is environmentally considered: it's solvent-free and applied at low temperatures to reduce energy consumption during production.
5. Why Groove fits into your life
You may be wondering whether so much "architecture" looks too severe. Quite the opposite. In everyday life, it has a special charm:
- Contrast with nature: the precise lines form a brilliant anchor point against the organic greenery of your garden. At the same time, the natural colours Moss and Putty blend harmoniously into their surroundings.
- Play of light: thanks to the grooves, the furniture changes with the position of the sun – sculptural in the midday light, soft at dusk.
- No boundaries: the pieces are of such high quality that they look excellent in the living room too. They blur the line between indoors and outdoors.
My verdict for you: the Groove series is for anyone who's had enough of standard garden furniture. It's for people who want to own a piece of real design history – an object that looks just as good in the living room in winter as it does on the terrace in summer. It's Dixon in his purest form: honest, solid and surprisingly soft to the touch.
5 key facts about the Groove outdoor collection:
- Material: 100% recyclable extruded aluminium
- What makes it special: the first outdoor concept after 10 years of research
- Feel: a solid look meets an astonishingly soft, almost textile feel
- Sustainability: consistent circularity thanks to single-material construction
- Suitable for everyday use: stackable and flexible – indoors and outdoors
By the way: since launching the Groove collection, Tom Dixon has also made some of his classic lights suitable for outdoor use – find out more here!
