Press Release
Mingbo Hou and Ruoyou Zhou Is Honored with the Silver A' Design Award for Triad Stool in Furniture Design
Mingbo Hou and Ruoyou Zhou acknowledged for furniture design by the international grand jury of the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 19, 2025 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has confirmed the Silver A' Design Award in the Furniture Design category for Triad Stool by Mingbo Hou and Ruoyou Zhou. The award was conferred within the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition and was determined through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who assessed anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
The Silver A' Design Award Explained
The Silver A' Design Award celebrates top-tier designs that embody excellence and innovation. This award acknowledges creations that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional, reflecting the designer's deep understanding and skill. Silver A' Design Award recipients are recognized for their contribution to raising industry standards and advancing the practice of design. Their work often incorporates original innovations and elicits a strong emotional response, making a notable impact on the improvement of everyday life.
About Triad Stool
Triad is a stool designed with triangular geometry to provide stability while optimizing space. Made from bent and welded metal sheets, it has a durable structure and a slightly concave seat for comfort. Its light form allows for easy movement, making it suitable for different places. With no assembly required, Triad is designed for use in homes, cafes, and shared spaces. Its geometric design ensures material efficiency while keeping a practical approach to seating.
About Mingbo Hou and Ruoyou Zhou
Mingbo Hou & Ruoyou Zhou is a design studio formed by two graduate students based in Okinawa, Japan. Inspired by the natural environment and everyday life of Okinawa, the studio explores furniture that blends culture, function, and quiet beauty. Through hands-on research and field practice, they seek forms that resonate gently with both people and place. Their work searches for new expressions rooted in nature, tradition, and the rhythms of daily living.
Award Record
This recognition makes Mingbo Hou and Ruoyou Zhou a winner of 1 A' Design Award.
About the A' Furniture Design Award
The A' Furniture Design Award is an international furniture competition recognizing good furniture designs by best furniture designers worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to furniture designers, product designers, industrial design studios and furniture brands from all countries. Typical entries include chairs, tables, sofas, beds, cabinets and shelves. The awarded furniture designs are published at https://designers.org/design-category/furniture
About A' Design Award & Competition
Organized annually since 2008, A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The philanthropic mission of the A' Design Award is to advance society through good design, by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Nominations are peer reviewed and evaluated anonymously by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. Eligible laureates receive the A' Design Prize, which includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, uploading a work and receiving a preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. More information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://designers.org/171667
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/171667
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!171667
- Laureate Profile: https://designers.org/d/363673
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Triad Stool
- Function
- Stool
- Category
- Furniture Design
- Discipline
- Industrial Design
- Industry
- Furniture & Home
- Colors
- Dark Slate Gray, Gainsboro, Dark Gray, Light Slate Gray and Gray
- Images
- 5
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Mingbo Hou and Ruoyou Zhou
- Country
- Japan
- Recognition
- Silver A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2024 - 2025
- Design ID
- #171667
Credits
- Team
- Ruoyou Zhou
- Image Credits
- Creative direction and brief: Mingbo Hou & Ruoyou Zhou. Photographer:Hiroto Nakamura , Ruoyou Zhou & Mingbo Hou.
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- Triad is a thoughtfully designed stool that addresses the challenges of compact living by offering a stable, space-efficient, and visually refined seating solution. Inspired by triangular geometry, it blends structural strength with aesthetic appeal. The precisely angled metal sheets enhance durability, while the gently contoured seat improves ergonomic comfort. Its seamless triangular form ensures both stability and elegance, making it an ideal addition to modern interiors.
- Inspiration
- Triad is crafted from bent and welded metal sheets, featuring clean lines and a focus on durability and eco-friendliness. Inspired by the geometric beauty of triangles, the design emphasizes stability and balance, while its minimalist form reflects the need for functional yet elegant solutions in modern living spaces.
- Research
- This project integrates user experience research with material engineering analysis. The goal was to develop a stool that balances stability, aesthetics, and sustainability. User interviews and ergonomic testing helped determine the optimal seat angle for comfort. The findings confirmed that the triangular geometry significantly enhances load-bearing capacity, while precision metal fabrication ensures long-term durability and efficient production feasibility.
- Challenge
- The main challenges of this project included optimizing structural strength while minimizing material usage and maintaining the visual and functional harmony of the triangular form. Precision in metal fabrication was also crucial, particularly in CNC bending and welding, to ensure consistent angles. Through multiple prototype iterations and structural testing, the final design achieved a refined, stable, and visually striking form.
- Realization and Technology
- Triad is manufactured using laser-cut metal sheets, CNC bending techniques, and TIG welding assembly. It is available in various finishes and colors to complement different interior styles.
- Operation and Interaction
- Triad is designed for direct use with no assembly required. Its triangular geometry ensures high stability, while its lightweight metal structure allows easy repositioning. The ergonomic seat provides comfortable seating, making it suitable for various settings, including homes, cafés, and public spaces.
- Project Duration and Location
- The project began in October 2024 in Okinawa, was completed in December 2024.
- Specifications
- Dimensions: W 350 mm × D 303 mm × H 450 mm Material: Laser-cut steel Weight: Approx. 2.5 kg Assembly: Fully welded, no additional installation required
- Keywords
- Minimalist design, triangular geometry, metal furniture, modern interior, ergonomic, space-saving, durable, sustainable, CNC machining, laser cutting
