Twenty-five years ago Dakota Jackson began a company as one-of-a-kind as the pieces he creates for it: Dakota Jackson, Inc.
It all began during the 1970s when Jackson, working out of his New York studio, was making furniture which included such mysterious detail as hidden compartments and pieces with unexpected movement, in tribute to his family?s trade as magicians and performers, to exhibit in New York?s Soho district galleries.
His apparent talent garnered much attention and many accolades by major museums. Jackson has since gone on to prove that his work is not limited to the walls of furniture showrooms. In 1999 Jackson completed work on well-known jewelry designer David Yurman?s Madison Avenue boutique. Also creating a multi-tasking environment for the Kip?s Bay Boys? and Girls? Club Decorator Show House.
Jackson?s list of commissions include working with?architect H. Gary Frank in designing an ark and chapel for Temple Jeremiah of Winnetka, IL, as well as collaborating with leading architect Peter Eisenman to build a stunning new showroom in the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles.
Dakota Jackson, Inc. is a truly design-driven firm as evidence in that it is a manufacturing company run by a designer. Such a rarity means that the detail and beauty of the furniture is never compromised, maintaining Jackson?s personal creed: ?The furniture has to be beautiful, it has to be provocative, it has to be meaningful.?
The company produces unique, high-end furniture for residential, contract and institutional applications, including one-offs done for celebrity clientele as well as the robotically carved Library Chair. The focus of each piece is to maintain and reflect the artistic and craftsmanship values upon which the company was founded while making the quality of custom furniture widely available to designers, architects and their clients.
This original company is continually looking to new processes and technologies to keep their products innovative. Thanks to this distinctive outlook and cross-marketing the company continues to grow.
This growth was showcased in a recent special event held at his beautiful showroom in the Pacific Design Center during WestWeek, an annual conference that attracts many of the most important contributors to the design industry.
Jackson?s introduction of his latest design known as the ?Scatter Chair,? marks his first-ever offering to the ?everyman? during his long and storied career. To date, his seminal work has only been accessible to the world’s finest residences, hotels, public institutions and museums including The London Design Museum, The Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, Germany’s Deutsches Architektur Museum and New York’s Museum of Art and Design.
Just as casual culture dominates the world of designer fashions, Dakota Jackson has created a parallel in furniture design with the “Scatter Chair.” The back and arms flex, yet given the compact scale of the chair it is surprisingly comfortable.?The lightweight, tubular stainless steel legs – anchored to a solid stainless steel base – make it quite portable.? The fully upholstered seat, back and arms are offered in six bold colors.? The “Scatter Chair” can also be ordered in a vast range of easily compatible fabric and leather selections. By offering a range of colors with compatible fabric and leather options to compliment the hip-hop inspired Scatter Chair?s comfortable ?flex? frame, Jackson had provided the general public an affordable opportunity to own his work.
With food provided by acclaimed catering company Patina, the event
coincides with WestWeek Work/Shop 2007, an annual conference that attracts
many of the most important contributors to the design industry.
Dakota Jackson, Inc. now boasts two factories in New York which employ people who bring skills from all over the world promising a lush environment for aspiring designers and craftsmen, as well as a nationwide distribution network. Jackson himself continues to advocate design education and experience through seminars, internships and apprenticeships.
In addition to his award-winning furniture designing career, Jackson?s appeal has been felt in other industries as well. In 2000, the renowned piano manufacturer Steinway & Sons invited him to design their ?Tricentennial Piano,? a special edition of 300 pianos commemorating the 300th anniversary of the instrument?s invention. He is currently producing the Grand Concert Piano, a limited edition piece scheduled for introduction in 2007, manufactured jointly with Steinway & Sons.
Learn more at www.dakotajackson.com.
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Event photos by Jane Emery.
