TOM DIXON - CHAIR
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN: TOM DIXON AND MAGICAL MUSHROOM COMPANY® CREATE MYCELIUM CHAIR PROTOTYPE
MYCELIUM FURNITURE
Tom Dixon, one of Britain’s most innovative designers, collaborated with Magical Mushroom Company® to craft a prototype chair using mycelium and hemp.
Magical Mushroom Company®, known for its sustainable mycelium-based packaging, took on this project to demonstrate the material’s potential for more permanent applications. Grown from agricultural byproducts, the chair represents a milestone in sustainable design, combining Dixon’s creative vision with MMC’s commitment to environmental innovation.
“THIS CHAIR PROVES THAT SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS CAN REVOLUTIONISE DESIGN.”
THE PROBLEM
PROVING ALTERNATIVE SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS CAN BE APPLIED FOR FURNITURE
While mycelium-based materials have proven effective as sustainable alternatives to polystyrene packaging, showcasing their potential for more permanent applications has been a challenge.
Tom Dixon aimed to create a design object that would not only demonstrate the material’s strength and beauty but also inspire wider adoption of sustainable materials in the furniture industry.
The challenge was to balance form, function, and sustainability in a single piece of furniture, proving that biodegradable materials could perform at the level of traditional materials.
THE SOLUTION
DEVELOP AND GROW A ‘PROOF OF CONCEPT’ CHAIR USING THE MYCOCOMPOSITE MATERIAL
Magical Mushroom Company® leveraged its expertise in mycelium-based manufacturing to grow a chair prototype using their MycoComposite material, developed in partnership with Ecovative Design LLC.
This material, made by binding mycelium with agricultural byproducts, offered the strength and durability needed for furniture design while being fully compostable and environmentally friendly.
The chair was grown in MMC’s manufacturing facility without manipulating environmental factors, aligning with circular design principles. Once composted, the material biodegrades within 45 days, supporting the natural carbon cycle.
THE RESULT
A DURABLE, STRONG, FUNCTIONAL AND ELEGANT CHAIR THAT IS 100% BIODEGRADEABLE
The Tom Dixon chair prototype successfully demonstrated the potential of mycelium-based materials beyond temporary packaging. By showcasing the material’s durability, strength, and aesthetic appeal, the project proved that biodegradable materials could meet the functional demands of furniture design.
This fully compostable chair integrates seamlessly into the natural carbon cycle, decomposing within 45 days without leaving waste behind, highlighting how sustainable materials can replace traditional ones while supporting circular design principles.
The collaboration served as a proof of concept for the use of mycelium in durable product designs, paving the way for further innovation in sustainable furniture. By working together, Tom Dixon and Magical Mushroom Company® reinforced their reputations as leaders in sustainable design and material innovation.
“Our partners at Magical Mushroom Company® are growing rapidly and producing more of this mycelium packaging every day to replace polystyrene.
However, we wanted to demonstrate its potential in a more permanent use—and this chair does just that.”
Tom Dixon, British Designer
