Dean Norton is a multidisciplinary designer and collaborator who develops products that consider form, function, refined detailing and harmony in materials. Drawing inspiration from personal experiences, he aims to create enduring performative works that connect on an emotional level, merging a balance between art and design whilst maintaining a minimalist aesthetic.
Born and raised in Essex, England, Norton originally studied graphic design before continuing his journey as an interior designer, graduating in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts degree (Hons) in Retail Interior Design from the University of the Arts London.
Now based in Melbourne, Norton launched his studio in 2017, drawing upon his design experience to create visually engaging, locally made pieces including furniture, objects, and lighting, re-imagining a variety of sculptural forms through the exploration of finishes and materials such as glass, mirror, steel, and timber.
Since launching his design studio, Norton’s work has captured the attention of the global design community and appreciators alike. His ‘Containa’ series was recently exhibited at Rossana Orlandi Master Gallery during Milan Design Week 2022/23, and his work has been shortlisted for numerous design awards, winning the Vivid Emerging Designer Award in 2021 and in 2022 he won a Prize Designs Award for ‘Best Table of the Year’ with ‘Containa’. Dwell Magazine (US) named Dean one of the 'best new designers out there' as part of their 24 Rising Stars list 2022, and in 2021 his Concave Convex Mirror was acquired by the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) for its permanent collection.
AWARDS
2023 - Idea Awards - Object, Furniture + Lighting (Professional) - Looking Glass - Shortlisted
2023 - Kyoto Global Design Awards - Best 100 - Nomination of Achievement - Winner
2022 - Idea Awards - Object, Furniture + Lighting (Professional) - Containa - Shortlisted
2022 - Prize Designs for Modern Furniture and Lighting Award - Containa - Winner
2021 - Vivid Emerging Designer Awards - Judges Choice Award - Float, Daylight + Connection = Community - Winner
2021 - Idea Awards - Object, Furniture + Lighting (Rising) - Float - Shortlisted
2021 - Idea Awards - Object, Furniture + Lighting (Rising) - Connection = Community - Shortlisted
2021 - Idea Awards - Object, Furniture + Lighting (Rising) - Daylight - Shortlisted
2021- Dezeen Awards - Lighting Design - Daylight- Shortlisted
2021- Dezeen Awards - Furniture Design - Float - Longlisted
2021 - The Design Files Design Awards - Lighting Design - Daylight - Finalist
2021 - Vivid Awards - Furniture - Float - Finalist
2021 - Vivid Awards - Furniture + Colour Awards - Connection = Community - Finalist
2021 - Vivid Awards - Lighting + Colour Awards - Daylight - Finalist
2020 - Idea Awards - Object, Furniture + Lighting (Rising) - Ikebana Vase - Shortlisted
2020 - Idea Awards - Object, Furniture + Lighting (Rising) - Concave Convex Mirror - Shortlisted
2020 - Vivid Awards - Object Design - Ikebana Vase - Finalist
2020 - Dezeen Awards - Homeware Design - Concave Convex Mirror - Longlisted
2019 - The Design Files Design Awards - Furniture Design - The Moodlum Collection - Finalist
EXHIBITIONS
2023 - ALCOVA - Gold Dust Motel - Aqua - Miami
2023 - NGV Melbourne Design Week - Matters - Melbourne
2023 - NGV Melbourne Design Fair - Looking Glass - Melbourne
2023 - RoCOLLECTIBLE - Rossana Orlandi Gallery - Containa - Milan
2023 - Melbourne Now - The Ian Potter Centre NGV - Melbourne
2022 - Availability - Alt Material - Box 54 - Melbourne
2022 - It’s not just blue - Craft Victoria - Mood Side Fade - Melbourne
2022 - Dean Norton: Deeply Considered Design - Solo Exhibition - Presented by Modern Times - Melbourne
2022 - In Search of Lost Time - Lake Como Design Festival with Movimento - Containa - Italy
2022 - RoCOLLECTIBLE - Rossana Orlandi Gallery - Containa - Milan
2022 - Origins - Collectible Design Fair with Movimento - Containa - Brussels
2022 - NGV Melbourne Design Fair - Moodlum Zinc Chameleon Mirror + Daylight Forever - Melbourne
2022 - NGV Melbourne Design Week - Say It Loud - Connection = Community - Melbourne
2021 - Narrative Goods - Modern Times - Containa - Melbourne
2021 - The Art of Bathing - The English Tapware Company Showroom Display by Kate Challis Interiors - Float Side 550 - Melbourne + Sydney
2021 - NGV Melbourne Design Week - alt.material - Community - Connection = Community - Melbourne
2021 - NGV Melbourne Design Week - Brave Blooms - Moodlum, Daylight + FLOAT - Melbourne
2020 - Fringe Furniture 34 - Daylight + FLOAT Console, Coffee + Side 490 / 550 - Melbourne
2020 - Dezeen Events - Alt Material - Ingenuity - Daylight - Melbourne
2020 - NGV Melbourne Design Week - Alt Material - Ductility - Concave Convex Mirror - Melbourne
2019 - Fringe Furniture 33 - Mood Side + Confetti Vase - Melbourne
2018 - Fringe Furniture 32 - Mood Coffee - Melbourne
2018 - Den Fair 18 - Moodlum Gallery - Melbourne
Interviews + publications
2023 - Dwell Magazine - December - These Are the Best Things We Saw at the Miami Design Fairs This Year
2023 - Vogue Living - December - All the design highlights from Miami Art Week 2023
2023 - Union Magazine - December - Full Moon
2023 - Kyoto Global Design Awards 2023 - November - Best 100 Winner Interview
2023 - Habitus Living - November - Dean Norton’s Full Moon explores glass and its distortions
2023 - Domain Digest - Prestige Magazine - Looking Glass
2023 - Communications Collective - April - Collectivity Talks - Milan Design Week Interview
2023 - The Local Project - February - The Local Marketplace - Containa
2022 - Union Magazine - December - Universe - Containa
2022 - INDESIGNLIVE - November
2022 - Vogue Living - November - Wizards of Oz - Containa + Mood Side Zinc
2022 - Azure Magazine - November /December - Designers to Watch
2022 - Dwell Magazine - October/September - The Dwell 24 Rising Stars
2022 - ArchitectureAU - August - A self-taught designer with a flair for experimentation
2022 - Global Design News - July - Best Table of the Year- Containa
2022 - Casa Vouge - July - Issue 441 - Design Total - Containa
2022 - Mix Magazine - July - Design Impressions - Containa
2022 - Belle Magazine - June /July - Chic Agenda - Mood Side Zinc
2022 - Artichoke Magazine - Issue 79 - June - Studio Profile Article
2022 - House Magazine - Issue 146 - June - Studio Profile Article
2022 - Wallpaper Magazine - April - Global Interiors - Containa
2022 - Design + Decor - February - Dean Norton Talks Conscious Design
2022 - AIFF - February - How the Pandemic Shaped VIVID Winner Dean Norton’s Designs
2021 - Design Wanted - December - Containa
2021 - Design Anthology - December - Dossier / Profile - Internal Process
2021 - Dezeen - November - Daylight
2021 - Inside Magazine - September - FLOAT, Daylight + Connection = Community
2021 - Domain Digest - Prestige Magazine - July - Daylight
2021 - Belle Magazine Australia - FLOAT Side 550
2021 - The Artling
2021 - Broadsheet - Concave Convex Mirror
2021 - Wallpaper - Connection = Community
2021 - Artichoke - issue 74 - Float
2020 - Australian Design Review
2020 - Green Magazine - Concave Convex Mirror
2020 - Inside Magazine - September - Concave Convex Mirror, Ikebana Vase
2020 - GQ Magazine
2020 - Inside Magazine - Issue 108 - Mood Side
2020 - Casper Magazine - Moodlum Zinc
2019 - Domain Prestige - August - Moodlum
2019 - James Treble Moodlum
2018 - Real Living - Issue 147 - Mood Side
