Tom Pearson's riveted aluminium installation at London Design Festival, featuring geometric elegance and intricate details.

Tom Pearson’s Riveted Aluminium Showcases Geometric Elegance at London Design Festival

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Written by John Oliver

2026-09-18

Exploring industrial artistry through tom pearson’s riveted design

Designer Tom Pearson has unveiled the 10,000 Rivets collection, a striking assembly of industrial furniture debuted at London’s APOC store during the Design Festival. This collection marks the first foray into furniture and lighting for Tom Pearson Studio, showcasing riveted aluminium in its design. The collection, referred to as his signature work, features pieces that double as display cases and tables, serving as display cases and tables for contemporary fashion.

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Riveted aluminium pieces from the 10,000 Rivets collection on display at APOC.
The 10,000 Rivets collection is on show at APOC

Anodising as artistic exploration in the collection

Building on his experience with Jamps Studio, Pearson delves into anodising—a technique that alters aluminium’s surface to create a water-resistant layer. “The forms are shaped by the limitations of the anodising process,” Pearson shares, highlighting the necessity of using non-welded rivet constructions due to the constraints of tank sizes and welding nuances present in these designs.

Table, shelves, and lamps from Tom Pearson's collection exhibited together.
Pieces include a table, shelves and lamps

“Finishing aluminium is notoriously tricky,” Pearson notes. “Anodising solves this, but experimenting in traditional settings is often unwelcome, prompting me to apply dyes manually for unique effects in these creations.”

Close-up of anodised aluminium with a distinctive droplet pattern.
Pearson’s anodising technique created a droplet pattern

Creating water droplet patterns in the creations

The designer’s explorations with dye application involve brushes and pipettes, resulting in droplet-like patterns across the geometric forms. Pearson comments, “I embrace the process’s unpredictability to establish a decorative patina.” This approach makes the pieces both functional and visually compelling in his work.

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Fashion pieces artfully displayed on Tom Pearson's riveted furniture.
The furniture is used to display APOC’s fashion pieces

Riveted geometry and playful design

Pearson’s riveting technique ensures these angular structures appear sculptural, almost floating. Though the exhibition features 6,264 rivets, the name 10,000 Rivets hints at a playful misplacement—”Who knows where the rest have gone?” Pearson muses about the project.

Overview of the 10,000 Rivets collection revealed at the festival.
The 10,000 Rivets collection was unveiled at London Design Festival

Produced by Heavy Duty Services and captured by Studio Adamson, these pieces reflect Pearson’s playful ethos—a journey guided by experimentation rather than rigid concepts. His work challenges traditional furniture design with its sleek, exposed rivet seams and intricate patterns.

Aluminium table adorned with decorative rivets along its sides.
Rivets decorate the sides of an aluminium table

Running from 12 to 20 September, you can explore 10,000 Rivets at the APOC store in London, linking into the broader tapestry of innovative designs showcased at the London Design Festival, prominently featuring this collection.

Source: dezeen.com

Frequently asked questions

What is Tom Pearson’s collection at the London Design Festival?

Tom Pearson’s collection, called the 10,000 Rivets collection, is an assembly of industrial furniture featuring riveted aluminium designs. It marks his studio’s first entry into furniture and lighting design, doubling as display cases and tables for contemporary fashion.

How does Tom Pearson approach anodising in his designs?

Tom Pearson explores anodising by altering aluminium’s surface to create a water-resistant layer. He highlights the use of non-welded rivet constructions due to the limitations of tank sizes and welding nuances.

What aesthetic technique does Pearson use in his creations?

Pearson uses dye application with brushes and pipettes to create droplet-like patterns across the geometric forms, embracing the process’s unpredictability to establish a decorative patina.