Bend Coffee Table by Jan Goderis is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 Bronze A' Design Award in Furniture Design Competition Category.
BronzeFurniture· 2023
Bend Coffee Table
by Jan Goderis
Bronze A' Design Award Winner in Furniture Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #148865The Design
About Bend Coffee Table
The table is made of two bent aluminium plates which fit together. When put together, the plates extend all the way to the legs. This gives a certain transparency and lightness to the design and vertical storage is created for magazines, newspapers, and plaid. In between the two top plates, there is also the possibility of storage on both sides of the table.
The Recognition
About the Bronze A' Design Award
Bend Coffee Table is a Bronze A' Design Award winner, a highly prestigious recognition granted to outstanding designs distinguished by creativity, ingenuity, and astuteness. Bronze winners are amply skillful and strikingly creative artifacts that authenticate the vast experience, imagination, and resourcefulness of their designers. Bend Coffee Table is expected to be a highly regarded, admired, and cherished object that is notably professional and innovative. This Bronze A' Design Award-winning design incorporates best practices in art, science, design, and technology, and is excellent for its attention to detail. Bend Coffee Table splendidly satisfies needs, touches desires, charms feelings, and appeals to curiosity.
Interviews
Design Interview
What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
The starting point was to design a simple coffee table by folding a plate (aluminium).
What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
At the start of the design, the pleated plate did not continue at the top and the design only consisted of the lower curved part.
As a result, reinforcement ribs had to be added, but that was very disturbing. It wasn't until 2022 that I decided to continue the pleated sheet with a duplicate of the top.
I was able to solve the problem of sturdiness and the design was finished the way I wanted it.
What are your future plans for this award winning design?
Sell the licensing rights to a design manufacturer.
Grand Interview
Your innovative approach to creating storage through bent aluminum plates in the Bend Coffee Table beautifully merges form with function - could you elaborate on how this dual-purpose design solution emerged during your creative process?
The design emerged spontaneously and naturally. I was inspired by the simplicity of a sketch I created with a single continuous line. I then translated that line into a folded sheet, which evolved into an object with a dual function: a coffee table where the form provides both a surface and storage space.
The Bend Coffee Table's journey from a single pleated line in 2017 to its current two-part design in 2022 represents significant evolution - what key insights led to this transformation, and how did it enhance both the aesthetic and structural elements?
The initial design dates back to 2017. At that time, it consisted of just a single plate without the top surface. This made it less functional as a coffee table because the usable surface was quite limited due to the open areas created by the V-shaped legs. There was also a structural issue, as the legs and small surface areas were not sturdy enough under load. In 2022, I revisited the design from my archives to refine it further. I decided to double the top surface, and the open space created allowed me to discreetly integrate a wooden slat. This solution addressed the structural and assembly challenges, provided ample surface area, and created additional storage space within the V-shaped legs.
Your choice of aluminum alloy and heating technique for the Bend Coffee Table overcame initial folding challenges - could you share more about this material exploration process and how it influenced the final design?
During the folding process of the prototype, we encountered the issue of the V-shaped legs cracking. When attempting to fix the cracks by welding them shut, the problem persisted. Eventually, the metalworking company suggested preheating the aluminium, which solved the issue. For later prototypes, we chose a different alloy for the aluminium plate, and this resolved the cracking problem during the folding process.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- The table is made of two bent aluminium plates which fit together. When put together, the plates extend all the way to the legs. This gives a certain transparency and lightness to the design and vertical storage is created for magazines, newspapers, and plaid... In between the two top plates, there is also the possibility of storage on both sides of the table.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Dimensions: 125 x 55 x 28 cm
- Tags
- coffee table, folded table, ecological design, functional design, minimal design
- Production Technology
- Made of 2 parts pleated aluminum sheets (lower and upper parts) finished with a more environmentally friendly lacquering process. Oak wood slats to join the 2 aluminum plates together.
- Design Challenge
- The design started in 2017. It consisted only of 1 pleated non-continuous line with only the pleated legs and the laying surface. To prevent the folding of the laying surface under load, reinforcement surfaces were provided at the bottom and between the supports, but they were very distracting. It wasn't until 2022 that the idea of using a continuous pleated line with a continuous top surface between which invisible wooden beams could be provided for strength and to invisibly connect the bottom and top. Using a continuous line only made the design more visually logical and aesthetic.
- Research
- The basis of the design is a smooth continuous line. When folding certain parts, cracks appeared. This was solved by choosing a different aluminium alloy and heating it when folding. It also sought to split the table into two parts so that it could be easily assembled and transportable. By making a separate top and bottom top, with a connection joint on the sides, and fitting together with invisible pins. For the top, two wooden beams are glued in the middle. Both parts are invisibly connected at the bottom with a few screws.
- Inspiration
- The inspiration was very basic. From the idea of creating a flowing 2-dimensional line design to a 3-dimensional table that can be made out of 1 sheet, metal or wood. And where the shape of the line can incorporate the essential elements for a coffee table, namely an outlet, supports (legs) and storage without becoming banal. Translated from an ordinary continuous line. The fluid continuous line gives a sculptural aspect to the table, which is in dialogue with its surrounding and user.
- Project Duration
- The design started in 2017 and finalized in 2022. Both in Ghent, Belgium.
- Operation Flow
- The pleated plate provides continuous support for the table and also provides storage in the legs and the space between the bottom and top.
- Patents
- e-depot: 000595853
- Team Members
- Jan Goderis
- Image Credits
- #1 photographer Jan Goderis, 2022
#2 photographer Jan Goderis, 2022
#3 photographer Jan Goderis, 2022
#4 photographer Sonny Plasschaert, 2022
#5 photographer Jan Goderis, 2022
Sponsored
Explore Beyond Designers.org
Discover products, services and opportunities from our advertising partners.
More to Explore
Related Designs
Explore more award-winning designs from the same category, selected by merit.
