IN WONDER WE TRUSTAN INVENTOR’S TALE
AN ARCHIVE OF INVENTION, IMAGINATION & WONDER

Media Archive.

An evolving archive · Original sources linked where available · Unverified leads identified.

For nearly thirty years, I’ve followed my imagination wherever it has taken me. Along the way, other people have occasionally stopped to write about what I’ve made. This is a collection of those stories.

A chronological record of journalism, radio, television, interviews, public talks and historical leads. Original publishers retain copyright. Some dates and claims await verification. Personal writing is collected separately in a footnote below. Jump to Writing by Tom ↓

2026
2025
2023
2022
2021
2020

Solar powered sculpture helps to uplift people

Wiltshire Times

Local reporting on Uplift. A same-day article with the same headline also appeared in the Gazette & Herald; both source links are retained as related coverage.

The Egg Wizard

Right Start Online

Independent coverage of Tom Lawton’s DIY egg-decorating invention.

2019

Uplift 2.0

Historical work / publication lead

Title and date supplied by Tom; publication and original link remain to be identified.

2018

Uplift: Spiral Meditation

Historical work / publication lead

Title and date supplied by Tom; publication and original link remain to be identified.

2017
2016

Designing Things to Last

Works That Work · Issue 10

Essay about planned obsolescence and durable design. Date supplied as 8 November 2016; connection to Lawton’s work remains to be independently verified.

Shop the Future

Channel 4 · Television appearance

Television appearance mentioned in Lawton’s 2016 first-person essay “Hello.” Date supplied as 26 aug 2016; independent episode listing and programme credits remain to be verified.

What to Buy & Why

BBC Two · Television appearance

Television appearance mentioned in Lawton’s 2016 first-person essay “Hello.” Date supplied as 12 aug 2016; independent episode listing and programme credits remain to be verified.

2015
2014
2013
2012

BBC Radio Wiltshire

BBC Radio Wiltshire · Radio appearance

BBC Radio Wiltshire appearance.

Shoot the bubble

DEVELOP3D

Substantial feature on the development of BubbleScope and Lawton's work in 360-degree imaging.

2010

One bright Malmesbury mind seeks another

Gazette & Herald

Report on Lawton serving as a judge on BBC One's My Genius Idea, following a recommendation by Trevor Baylis OBE. Also recalls the 1998 degree show, an appearance on Channel 4's Lost, WakeYoo and Firewinder, and a commission for a giant Firewinder at Coney Island. Full article text supplied.

Giant Firewinder commission for Coney Island

Public art commission · Reported in Gazette & Herald

A 2010 report says Lawton was commissioned to create a giant Firewinder for Coney Island, Brooklyn. Completion and installation are not yet independently confirmed.

My Genius Idea

BBC One / CBBC · Television programme

BBC programme record for Lawton’s role as an inventor judge. The BBC Programme Index lists Tom Lawton as a participant in Episode 4, broadcast on 2 November 2010. BBC broadcast listing

2009
2008

Prototype stolen

Gazette & Herald

Contemporary newspaper report on a stolen prototype.

2007

Firewinder Turns Wind Into Light

Gizmodo · Kevinhall2

Early coverage of the Firewinder concept, describing its helical wind-driven form and light generation.

BubbleScope promises simple 360 degree photography

Engadget · Donald Melanson

Contemporary coverage of the original BubbleScope camera: one-megapixel sensor, 360° × 140° panoramas, internal memory and SD/MMC storage. The article credits Josh Spear as its source.

Japanese design feature on 360-degree imaging

AXIS · Japan · Print magazine

Reported AXIS print-magazine feature on early 360-degree imaging. Date supplied as 13 May 2007; original issue, headline, author and pages still need confirmation. Previously listed as a 2005 lead.

Spear Exclusive: BubbleScope

Josh Spear · Original design coverage

Early BubbleScope coverage cited by Engadget in June 2007. Publication date supplied as 1 May 2007; original archive byline not yet independently checked.

2000

Lost

Channel 4 · Television series

Lawton’s participation was reported retrospectively in the 4 November 2010 Gazette & Herald. Date supplied as 2 September 2000, although the linked Channel 4 series is identified as a 2001 programme; broadcast and episode need reconciliation.

1998

Bournemouth University degree show

Contemporary event · Retrospectively reported in 2010

The 2010 Gazette & Herald reports Trevor Baylis opened Lawton’s 1998 degree show. Event date supplied as 15 June 1998; contemporary programme or clipping still to be located.

Further articles & archive leads

These sources have been shared or identified, but need a precise date, original scan, full text or bibliographic details before being placed definitively in the chronology.

Second DEVELOP3D magazine cover

DEVELOP3D · Print archive

A second cover appearance has been reported; issue and feature details remain to be confirmed.

Awaiting issue identification

A footnote: Writing by Tom

A small collection of my own essays and reflections, separate from the independent media archive.

A Gift — Giant Bronze Wonder

In Wonder We Trust · Tom Lawton · Artist’s essay

A personal reflection on imagination, ownership, legacy and letting go, accompanying Lawton’s offer to gift his one-off Giant Bronze Wonder to the British Museum. The offer is an intention, not a confirmed museum acquisition.

Uplift & Wonder

Medium · Tom Lawton

Additional essay lead; original article link to recover.

Let It Flow

Medium · Tom Lawton

Personal essay · Medium · 14-minute read.

Hello.

Medium · Tom Lawton

First-person illustrated overview of inventions, design and television work.

Why I Run

Medium · Tom Lawton

Personal essay · Medium · 6-minute read.

This is a growing archive. Publication dates and titles are transcribed from available sources or identified as needing confirmation. Inclusion does not imply that a source independently verifies every claim it contains.