Folding Bwrdd Ochr by Max Niemiec is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Gwobr Haearn A' Design Award in Dylunio Dodrefn Competition Category.
HaearnDodrefn· 2026
Folding Bwrdd Ochr
by Max Niemiec
Client: Paul Maxwell
Gwobr Haearn A' Design Award Winner in Dodrefn Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #180622The Design
About Folding Bwrdd Ochr
Bwrdd ochr yw Folding sydd hefyd yn gwasanaethu fel cerflun geometrig a fwriadwyd i'w weld o bob ochr. Gwneir y bwrdd o un slab pren caled wedi'i lamineiddio, wedi'i dorri'n bedwar darn a'i uno eto ar hyd onglau llym ac aflem, fel bod y ffurf yn ymddangos fel pe bai wedi'i phlygu. Mae siamffrau hir meinhaol yn mireinio'r ymylon ffasedog. Defnyddir uniadau hoelbren, jigiau gwaith coed a dulliau clampio arbennig ar gyfer y cydosod. Plygir y slab dair gwaith, ac mae pob un o'r pedair ochr yn cyflwyno golygfa wahanol. Mae pob dimensiwn yn mesur 483 mm.
The Recognition
About the Gwobr Haearn A' Design Award
Mae Folding Bwrdd Ochr yn enillydd Gwobr Haearn A' Design Award, cydnabyddiaeth fawreddog a roddir i ddyluniadau da sydd yn bodloni'r gofynion proffesiynol a diwydiannol a ddisgwylir gan greadigaethau wedi'u dylunio'n dda. Mae enillwyr Haearn yn dangos medrusrwydd mawr, arbenigedd uchel, dealltwriaeth arbenigol a gallu creadigol eu crewyr. Disgwylir i Folding Bwrdd Ochr fod yn greadigaeth uchel ei bri, a edmygir ac a anwylir, sydd yn ymarferol ac yn arloesol. Mae'r dyluniad buddugol hwn o Wobr Haearn A' Design Award yn integreiddio arferion gorau'r diwydiant ac mae ganddo nodweddion technegol cymwys wedi'u cysylltu â gwybodaeth ymarferol a dawn. Parchir Folding Bwrdd Ochr am ei drylwyredd ac fe'i dyluniwyd i ddarparu gwelliannau ansawdd bywyd sydd yn helpu i wneud y byd yn lle gwell.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- This side table design is a geometric sculpture meant to be enjoyed from all sides. It is made from one laminated slab, cut and joined back together on acute and obtuse angles, to give the impression that it has been folded into a table-like form.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Width 483 mm x Depth 483 mm x Height 483 mm
- Tags
- folding, table, geometric, sculptural, side table, origami, taper, facet
- Production Technology
- The first step in the process is to make a laminated hardwood slab. Then the slab is cut into four pieces. The use of woodworking jigs and fixtures is necessary to cut the unusual angles and tapered chamfers. Dowel-type joinery and special clamping methods are used for the final assembly
- Design Challenge
- In minimalist designs a recurring challenge is finding the sweet spot between simplicity and complexity. Based on the initial design concept it was clear that the base and top of the table needed to be parallel planes. Two folds would have been the minimum to accomplish this but would have also been too simple to be interesting. Four folds would have been too complex and less structurally sound. The conclusion that this design required the slab to be folded three times provided the constraints and scope for the remainder of the design work.
- Research
- For this design the portion of the effort that was mathematical was far grater than in most other design projects. Although at first sight the folding table may appear elegantly simple, transforming this concept into reality was a highly complex trigonometric challenge. Each adjustment to the aesthetics required a long series of recalculations
- Inspiration
- The objective in this design was to create something that is both simple and radically new. The design process began with experiments folding a rectangular strip of paper. After transitioning from working with the flat plane of the paper to the thick wooden slab, the incorporation of the long tapered chamfers became aesthetically necessary - one of the most delightful elements of the design.
- Project Duration
- February 2025 - September 2025
- Operation Flow
- The folding table is best suited for use as a side table in an open space that provides as many unobstructed views as possible. Since it appears different from each of it's four sides, the front of the table depends on the preference of the viewer.
- Patents
- Application No. 30/046,172
Filed: February 3, 2026 - Team Members
- Max Niemiec
- Image Credits
- Brian Shumway
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