Matthew Hilton is one of Britain’s most highly respected industrial designers with over 30 years’ experience designing modern classics.
After graduating from Kingston Polytechnic with a degree in Furniture Design in 1979, he went on to design products for Paul Smith and Joseph Pour La Maison before joining product design company Capa, London. During this time he also designed sets for the renowned fashion designer Koji Tatsuno’s company Cultureshock.
In 1985 Matthew set up the Matthew Hilton Design Studio and started working for the British retailer and manufacturer SCP, for whom he has designed a number of classics such as the Balzac chair, the Flipper and Antelope table. The Matthew Hilton Design Studio also worked for manufacturers including Driade, Disform, Sawaya and Moroni, XO, Montis Perobell, the Bradley Collection, Montina, Livit, Ycami, Andreu World Case and Authentics.
In 2000, Hilton was appointed Head of Furniture Design at Habitat. In September 2007, Matthew Hilton established his eponymous brand as a place he could have complete creative control. He specialises in creating sculptural designs with an elegant simplicity that belies the complex engineering. De La Espada manufactures for the Matthew Hilton brand, realising each design through premium materials and expert craft.
In 2005, Hilton was given the highest honour in the field of Industrial Design in the United Kingdom, by being named a Royal Designer for Industry. In 2008, he was named Designer of the Year by Elle Decoration at the British Design Awards. His work is held in the permanent collections of The Geffrye Museum and the Victoria & Albert Museum, London.
