Tag Archives: A’ Design Award and Competition

The Pearl Chandelier puts pearl-shaped bulbs within metal sconce ‘oysters’ for a grand lighting aesthetic

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Although pearls aren’t the first thing that come to your mind when you look at this chandelier, Waxy Design Studio’s Pearl Chandelier manages to weave a unique aesthetic out of its original starting point. The chandelier comes with multiple lighting elements mounted around it in a ring, creating an almost jewel-like experience. Each individual metal cone or sconce has a pearl-shaped lightbulb inside it, turning the chandelier into a necklace for your ceiling, and making the metal sconces have the concealing appeal of an oyster that just lets you peek in to see the pearl.

Designer: Waxy Design Studio

The chandelier comes in two styles – white or black, with an interplay against the golden metal color on the inside and the golden frame itself. Each chandelier has precisely 20 sconces or lighting elements, made of curved metal sheets. The light sits within the sheet, shining through the opening in the folds. It’s perhaps a very liberally abstract way to represent an oyster, but then again, the chandelier does focus the light both downwards as well as upwards, helping scatter the light in a meaningful and functional way. It does have a stunning appeal too, with the 20 sconces coming together almost like a necklace.

“Each Pearl Light unit encapsulates a delicate balance between the luminosity of the pearl and the protective embrace of metal, mirroring the relationship between an oyster and its precious gem,” says Waxy Design Studio. “This juxtaposition creates a visually striking and emotionally resonant lighting fixture that enhances any space with its unique charm.”

Meticulous attention to detail is evident in the seamless integration of the ‘pearls’ and metal components. Advanced production techniques ensure both the structural integrity of the piece and the delicate diffusion of light through the pearl. The result is a captivating play of light and shadow, inviting viewers to appreciate the fixture from various perspectives.

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These Origami Cabins were designed to be rapidly constructed in a short span of time

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Imagine a house that can adapt to any environment, from bustling cityscapes to serene mountain ranges. This is the vision behind the Infinity Mobile Architecture, an award-winning design by A.L.P.S. that’s redefining the concept of living spaces. Cities are getting saturated and as a result, people are leaving their urban lives behind, looking for a livable habitat in lesser-occupied areas. Designed to help you build a home with minimal effort, time, and destruction to the surroundings, the Infinity Mobile Architecture system by A.L.P.S. gives you a flexible home that can be rapidly constructed on any kind of terrain and in any climate. Relying on clever origami, the Infinity homes are stable and offer dynamic and aesthetic livable spaces that let you get away from the city without necessarily leaving the comforts of an urban home.

Designer: A.L.P.S.

The key to this flexibility lies in the ingenious skeletal structure. Crafted from high-grade, lightweight aluminum, it’s both robust and easy to transport. This innovative design allows the unit to adapt to various terrains, from mountain slopes to serene meadows. Nestled amidst rolling hills or perched on a rocky cliffside, the Infinity Mobile Architecture minimizes its footprint while maximizing your connection with the surrounding beauty.

The focus on lightweight materials reduces environmental impact during transportation and construction. A.L.P.S. has even explored eco-friendly facade options like soft fabric, ensuring the unit blends seamlessly with its natural surroundings. It’s a home that respects the environment, leaving minimal disruption in its wake. But the Infinity Mobile Architecture isn’t just about aesthetics. A.L.P.S. has incorporated clever technical advancements to ensure a comfortable and functional living experience. The retractable skeleton is not just lightweight, it’s designed for ease of use. During transport, it conveniently folds in, making the unit compact and manageable. Once you’ve reached your new haven, the skeleton expands to create a spacious living area.

This leaves you with roomy interiors that have a dynamic ceiling, enhancing the living space to break its cuboidal monotony. The ceiling evokes the dynamism of a kaleidoscope, further enhanced by the cabin’s full-length mirrors that let ample amounts of natural light in during the day.

The exterior, on the other hand, is clad with aircraft-grade aluminum panels, making the unit resistant to a wide range of temperatures, from scorching deserts to snow-capped mountains. Secondary lightweight structures and decking components can be assembled without heavy machinery, minimizing disruption to the environment. Additionally, the innovative single-point suspended ceiling system boasts a weight capacity of 80kg and can be hoisted into place in one go. This translates to a quicker turnaround time, allowing you to enjoy your new mobile haven sooner.

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This Modular Handbag Ditches Stitches for Interlocking Leather Pieces

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In 2022, reports highlighted a significant trend among Iranian students and entrepreneurs: nearly 50% expressed a desire to emigrate, and 62% were undecided about returning home. This emigration wave, driven by the pursuit of better opportunities, underscores a broader narrative of seeking growth despite facing mental, emotional, and physical challenges. Olka, meaning “homeland” in Persian, is a product born from this very spirit of resilience and transformation.

Olka is a bag that symbolizes the journey of Iranian youth who venture abroad to build better lives. Inspired by these stories, it captures the essence of migration as a path fraught with pain yet ripe with potential for growth. The design metaphorically represents this journey, where every slit and seam is a stepping stone toward creating something beautiful, similar to a flower blooming through adversity.

Designer: Maryam Hosseini

Leather, known for its durability, often outlasts the threads used in stitching, which degrade faster, compromising the overall longevity of leather products. Olka addresses this issue innovatively by eliminating stitches altogether. Instead, it uses a modular interlocking system where leather pieces fit seamlessly together. This not only enhances the product’s durability but also streamlines production, as the assembly process is faster and more efficient. Additionally, any damaged component can be easily replaced, extending the bag’s life and making it sustainably fashionable.

One of Olka’s standout features is its consumer-centric design approach. The bag comprises 72 genuine cow leather pieces, each meticulously designed in 2D and 3D using AutoCAD and precisely cut with laser technology. These pieces are interwoven, creating a sturdy, cohesive structure without the need for stitching. Consumers have the option to order the bag in separate components, accompanied by a manual, allowing them to assemble it themselves. This DIY aspect fosters a deep emotional connection and sense of belonging, as users actively participate in the creation of their bag.

Olka also includes a handcrafted inner bag made from genuine cow leather, which can be used independently as a minimalist crossbody bag. This dual-functionality adds to the product’s versatility and appeal, catering to various needs and occasions.

The journey to creating the bag involved extensive research across several domains, including interlocking systems, modular design, consumer behavior, DIY product trends, and the migration patterns of young Iranians. This thorough exploration ensured that Olka was not just a product, but a solution that resonates deeply with its target audience. The primary challenge faced during Olka’s development was ensuring that the interlocked components provided strength comparable to traditional stitching. Additionally, the concept of delivering the bag in separate pieces for consumer assembly required meticulous testing to guarantee ease of use and durability. The successful resolution of these challenges is a testament to the innovative spirit and technical expertise behind the bag.

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‘Catvas’ Scratching Pad Transforms Your Cat’s Scratching into Abstract Wall Art

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From a human’s perspective, the scratching behavior of cats is often regarded as destructive. Cats are naturally inclined to scratch almost anything they can see, from fabric sofas and leather seats to stereos, leading to frustration among pet owners. However, what if we could view this behavior from a different perspective? Catvas invites us to re-examine this norm, encouraging reflection on the evolving relationship between humans and their companion animals.

Designer: Livelyhood Ltd.

For cats, scratching is more than just a habit; it is essential for maintaining their well-being. Scratching helps cats remove the outer layer of their nails, vent their emotions, and leave pheromones. These pheromones create a sense of territory and emotional connection with their environment. As these pheromones accumulate, cats develop a stronger emotional bond with the objects they scratch.

Many cat owners cherish various cat-related objects, from cat hair to toys. However, scratching boards are often overlooked as they are typically viewed as consumables. Catvas challenges this perception by transforming the idea of “consumables” into “artwork,” fulfilling people’s desire to collect and preserve meaningful artifacts from their pets.

This scratching board revolutionizes the concept of scratching by transforming it from a ‘destructive’ act into a ‘creative’ process. This innovative product offers both cats and their owners the opportunity to co-create their living spaces. The specially designed double-layered fabric of Catvas gradually reveals a unique, painting-like effect as cats scratch. These replaced fabric scratching panels are no longer discarded as waste; instead, they become artistic memorials, preserving the traces of the cat’s life in a visually captivating manner.

The L-shaped structure of Catvas is designed to fit the natural stretching habits of cats, while the removable double-layered fabric panel allows for easy replacement. As the cat scratches, the underlying fabric is exposed, creating a unique visual effect reminiscent of a painting. These customized panels can be framed and used as home decorations, adding a personalized artistic touch to the living space. With pride, you can tell your guests “My cat made that”.

It is constructed from mostly recyclable materials, including wood, aluminum, and fabric made from old cloth and mycorrhiza. Its manufacturing-friendly design features easy-to-assemble components, significantly reducing packaging costs and waste during transport. The specially designed multi-layered fabric has a thinner top layer, making it easier for cats to scratch and reveal the underlying art.

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Chinese Lantern-inspired Speaker Takes The HomePod Texture To New Cultural Heights

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I’m sure that there’s a non-zero percentage of people who saw the first HomePod and were reminded of the paper lanterns that decorate each house during Chinese festivals. These lanterns use a thin crepe paper, joined at intervals to create a diamond-shaped honeycomb pattern not too different from the one seen on Apple’s HomePod, albeit at a much smaller scale. Designer Shengtao Ma saw this as an opportunity to more deliberately design a speaker that pays a hat-tip to tradition. The Sirocco Speaker is a slim audio unit with a decorative cover that tributes the lanterns seen in Chinese culture. The speaker’s cover folds open and close just like the lantern, attaching around the speaker’s slender stem-shaped design. The result is something that’s sculptural yet functional, with a cover that can be changed on demand, and a tactile knob on the bottom for controlling the speaker’s volume.

Designer: Shengtao Ma

The Sirocco Speaker comes in multiple shapes and sizes, resembling the traditional lantern seen in Chinese and other Asian cultures

Shengtao Ma makes a case that the speaker’s foldable outer structure plays a role in amplifying the sound. The speaker itself is a slim, vertical number, but the different diamond-shaped elements act as acoustic chambers, helping channel and amplify the audio much like cupping your hands around your mouth. Whether this theory works in reality is yet to be determined, but the concept secured an A’ Design Award this year.

“This speaker further conducts and diffuses sound through its unique honeycomb structure design, thereby further enhancing the user’s experience and music quality. This speaker is foldable. The speaker’s shell is stowable and modular, and comes with a variety of shell shapes that can be replaced at any time according to the user’s mood and home environment,” Shengtao says. “The foldable honeycomb structure at the upper end can be assembled and disassembled by rotation, making it easy to replace, store, and clean.”

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Adorable Hen-Shaped Olive Oil Dispenser Combines Aesthetic Design with Sustainability and Practicality

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It has become quite a thing to have a good balance between design and functionality lately, adhering to this, Soso potentially introduces an innovative gourmet olive oil dispenser that artfully bridges aesthetics, sustainability, and practicality. Inspired by the brand’s iconic egg-shaped salt shaker, the new oil bottle captivates with its whimsical yet refined hen-shaped design, evoking the playful query, “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” This concept breathes life into the vibrant product range, offering a delightful and visually appealing solution for culinary aficionados.

Designer: Bernardo Diaz Lopez for Soso

The design journey began with a clear objective: to create a compact, durable, and reusable container that complements the beloved egg salt shaker. Crafted from high-quality ceramic sourced from local producers in Andalusia and the Spanish Levant, the bottle embodies a deep connection to Spanish heritage through its tactile feel and aesthetic purity. This local sourcing not only ensures premium quality but also reinforces the brand’s commitment to supporting regional craftsmanship.

The gourmet olive oil dispenser features a distinctive integrated opening and closing mechanism. This innovative stopper allows for hermetic sealing and effortless pouring with a simple twist, eliminating the need for removal. When fully twisted off, the cap can be detached for easy refills, featuring a double anti-drip and oil return system to enhance functionality and maintain a clean pour.

Ergonomically designed to provide a comfortable grip, the hen-shaped bottle marries form with function. The multifunctional cap plays several roles—sealing, pouring, and refilling—all seamlessly integrated into the overall design. This attention to ergonomic detail ensures that the dispenser is as practical as it is aesthetically pleasing.

Aimed at consumers who value both aesthetics and sustainability, the design appeals to those who appreciate locally sourced goods and the revival of ceramics as a reusable material. By integrating recycled plastics, the product range highlights its eco-friendly credentials, attracting conscientious buyers who seek both style and sustainability in their purchases.

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Origami-inspired handbag shapeshifts into different forms to give you a new bag everyday

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Imagine a single bag that transforms into countless forms, adapting to your mood and needs. This might sound like sci-fi, but it’s actually the beautiful Infinite Convertible Bag, designed by Maryam Hosseini. Addressing the need with elegance and innovation, the Infinite Bag emerges as a testament to timeless design inspired by the rich heritage of Iranian architecture while embracing the principles of sustainability and versatility.

Designer: Maryam Hosseini

The genesis of the Infinite Bag draws inspiration from the intricate geometry pattern beautifying the dome of the music hall of Aali Qapu, an imperial palace nestled in Iran, dating back to 1957 C.E. Iranian architecture during the Safavid period was deeply rooted in mathematical precision and geometric proportions, echoing the language of nature itself. The domes of this era exemplify a seamless fusion of art and mathematics, where 2D designs effortlessly transform into mesmerizing 3D spaces through meticulous layering.

Embracing this ethos, the bag ingeniously incorporates origami techniques to fold its leather pieces into an array of shapes, echoing the transformative essence of Iranian architectural masterpieces. Like a puzzle waiting to be solved, the bag offers over 40 different configurations, both symmetrical and asymmetrical, allowing users to tailor its shape to match their mood or occasion. Contemporarily, we all know that individuality reigns supreme, and the Infinite Bag emerges as a canvas for self-expression, empowering users to craft their unique narrative with every fold.

Crafted from 96 pieces of genuine cow leather and 18 sets of no-sew snap metal buttons, the Infinite Bag is a testament to meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail. Each component is meticulously designed in both 2D and 3D using AutoCAD before being precision-cut with laser technology. The pieces are then delicately attached to a soft and foldable suede base, culminating in a masterpiece sewn entirely by hand. The design team grappled with the delicate balance between form and function, ensuring that the bag retained its exquisite aesthetics while remaining practical for everyday use. Furthermore, the selection of materials posed its own set of hurdles, with the team meticulously scrutinizing various options to find the perfect balance of durability and flexibility.

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Want a quick power nap at work? This clever chair will help you catch a few winks

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Exhaustion is an epidemic. A staggering 62% of adults worldwide struggle with sleep deprivation, leading to a domino effect on health and productivity. Enter the Power Nap Chair, a revolutionary furniture design that tackles this challenge head-on.

Designed by Martin Tsankov, the idea of the Power Nap Chair came from his friend and business partner Milen Kisov, who discovered that power naps helped significantly boost his productivity at work. Scientifically proven to enhance cognitive function, memory, and cardiovascular health, short 15-30 minute naps are a game-changer. But finding a suitable space for napping at work has traditionally been a hurdle. Existing solutions like sleeping pods are bulky and expensive (not to mention that most offices don’t have them), and napping at your desk isn’t just uncomfortable, it’s also frowned upon… but the Power Nap chair offers a slick, cozy, and effective alternative.

Designers: Martin Tsankov & Milen Kisov

Sort of like a lounge chair meets a baby stroller, the Power Nap Chair comes with a relaxing design that you can lay down in, and a hood that cocoons you in your own personal private bubble. Simplicity reigns supreme – the chair is free of distracting technology, fostering complete disconnection. This makes it perfect for both open-plan offices and compact workspaces. Sustainability is woven into the very fabric of the chair. Carefully chosen, fully recyclable materials are used throughout, minimizing environmental impact.

The Power Nap Chair is built with three core components: a metal frame, an upholstered wooden body, and a foldable hood. The frame is crafted from machine-bent and powder-coated carbon steel profiles, echoing the chair’s triangular design for a sturdy foundation. The body is constructed from 104 individual CNC-milled birch plywood triangles, meticulously hand-sanded, and finished with non-toxic linseed oil. Each triangle is then encased in flame-resistant, biodegradable memory foam before being upholstered in a comfortable woolen fabric. The hood, made from the same fabric, is specially designed to fold for easy storage while providing essential privacy for napping users.

“Our main challenge is reversing societal stigma around resting in the workplace by creating a product fit for a modern lifestyle where relaxation and productivity intersect,” says designer Martin Tsankov, who won an A’ Design Award this year for the Power Nap Chair. The chair looks inviting, comfortable, and has a unique low-poly aesthetic that your eyes are sure to fall in love with right before they shut for your quick nap. The chair holds a design patent, although it isn’t in production just yet. A final prototype was, however, exhibited at the Stockholm Furniture Fair in February 2024.

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This Open-Air Market In Japan Features Expansive Roofs And An A-Frame Inspired Design

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This stunning structure is called the Marche Vision Market, and it is located in Taki town, Mie prefecture, Japan. Designed by Tomoya Akasaka, this exquisite market is unlike the typical, crowded, chaotic, and often haphazardly designed markets you may have come across. The key elements of the market are the rather expansive and impressive roofs which were designed after drawing inspiration from the water cycle, since rain and sunshine are essentials for the growth of crops. The unique roofs represent the absorption of energy via the curved surface extending over the ground. The repetitive torii gates at the Akone Yashiro Shine, located within the Ise Grand Shrine were sources of inspiration for the structures supporting the roof. The torii gates represent the prayers for abundant harvest, plentiful fishing yields, and successful businesses, forming a beautiful connection and symbolism, since the market promotes and sells local produce.

Designer: Tomoya Akasaka

The Marche Vision isn’t simply a market, it focuses on and attempts to foster regional collaboration through food. It takes the age-old and successful concept of the farmers’ market and elevates it by promoting dining events, to stimulate and support regional innovation and growth. The impressive roof is meant to represent the serene connection between heaven and earth, and it shelters a space that functions as an engaging landscape, where fresh ingredients and produce are encouraged, and business is conducted at a dynamic and productive pace.

The roofs shelter an open-air space, where visitors are allowed to connect with the outdoors, nature, and changing seasons, something which is not often seen in modern retail and shopping centers. This thoughtful touch reduces energy consumption, in turn addressing and offering a unique solution to environmental issues. The eaves form a surface for raindrops to descend regularly, in turn creating a ‘rain curtain’. The side facing the expressway has been integrated with local wooden louvers, adding a touch of warmth, minimalism, and harmony to the marketplace. These simple touches not only protect the region’s natural beauty but also encourage sustainable preservation.

The Marche Vision is designed to offer a lavish lineup of fresh food. It is a convenient and easy-to-access market for local growers, providing an interactive and expansive space for the promotion and sale of locally-grown produce. Fresh vegetables, delicacies from the land and sea, and even seasonal seafood such as Ise spiny lobster and abalone straight from Ise-Shima are available at the Marche Vision market.

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These quirky bottles explore the iconic silhouette of wine bottles by mimicking the outline

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Introducing you to your drink’s new best friend – the Cool Line Liquor Bottle series… It’s not your ordinary bottle; it’s a magician’s hat of sorts, hiding not one, not two, but four secret compartments for your favorite drinks. Crafted from durable stainless steel and lined with a safety coating, it’s as tough as it is reliable. Amping up your indoor and outdoor parties and catering to varied choices in a compact form.

Designer: Quan Yuan

At first glance, the liquor bottle appears to defy convention. Its sleek and modern aesthetic diverges from the familiar silhouette of standard liquor bottles. Yet, beyond its striking exterior lies a remarkable fusion of form and function, carefully crafted to cater to the evolving preferences of contemporary consumers.

Imagine picking up a pencil and drawing in the air. With this bottle, those lines come to life in 3D! The designer took simple lines and turned them into a cool, futuristic liquor bottle. It’s not just about looks though – it’s super practical too. By smoothly combining thick lines and introducing a novel joint mechanism, the designer transforms ordinary lines into a tangible 3D representation of a liquor bottle. You can store not one, not two, but four different types of liquor in one bottle! How cool is that?

The transformative nature of this design extends beyond its visual appeal. Each unit comprises a pair of linear tubes, offering a unique solution for housing multiple varieties of liquor. The main upper tube, equipped with a convenient screw cap, facilitates easy pouring of the main liquor. Meanwhile, the C-shaped base tube, cleverly integrated with the joint mechanism, adds an element of versatility. By simply adjusting the position and unscrewing the cap, users can access a secondary liquor stored within the base tube.

Moreover, this bottle boasts not only innovation in form but also in material composition. Crafted from premium 304 stainless steel and featuring a food-grade inner coating, it ensures both durability and safety in beverage storage. The outer packaging, comprising cardboard, EVA-base, PET sheets, and acrylic plates, further enhances its appeal as a premium product.

Behind the scenes, extensive research and experimentation have paved the way for the realization of this groundbreaking design. The designer carefully looked at lots of other bottles to see what young people like. Through iterative prototyping and 3D printing, the optimal joint mechanism and tube thickness were determined, ensuring both functionality and aesthetic appeal. Undoubtedly, the journey of designing this liquor bottle was not without its challenges. The development of the joint mechanism, in particular, posed a challenging obstacle. Yet, through creativity and perseverance, the designer succeeded in creating a mechanism that allows for fluid rotation of the main tube while ensuring stability and balance.

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