Press Release
Virella Furniture by Ghazaleh Abbasian Wins the A' Design Award in Furniture Design
Ghazaleh Abbasian acknowledged for furniture design by the international grand jury of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 22, 2026 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has announced that Virella Furniture by Ghazaleh Abbasian, designed for Ghazal, has been granted the A' Design Award in the Furniture Design category. The award was conferred within the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition and was reached 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 A' Design Award Explained
The Iron A' Design Award is awarded to good designs that meet the rigorous professional and industrial standards set by the A' Design Awards. This recognition is reserved for works that demonstrate a solid understanding of design principles and show creativity within their execution. Recipients of the Iron A' Design Award are acknowledged for their practical innovations and contributions to their respective fields, providing solutions that improve quality of life and foster positive change. These designs are a testament to the skill and dedication of their creators, showcasing their ability to address real-world challenges through thoughtful design.
About Virella Furniture
This design is inspired by natural forms interacting with urban environments and features a twisting wooden structure that expresses movement and transformation. It integrates greenery, seating, and subtle lighting to create a balanced relationship between aesthetics, functionality, and sustainability. The structure is modular and ergonomically designed, supporting comfort and social interaction. Materials include durable timber, metal supports, and integrated ambient LED lighting, contributing to its adaptability and presence within a range of urban contexts.
About Ghazaleh Abbasian
Ghazal has been working for 15 years. Its main activity is focused on architecture. However, thinking to the projects from different aspects which fulfill the customer’s need is always our certain desire. Thus, the intention was applied specifically in designing a product such as a chair. Monarc is designed with vision to create flexible atmosphere where people come together. It was intended to consider a chair in a different way in which all parts can be adjusted to adapt to multiple functions.
Award Record
Ghazaleh Abbasian is a winner of 2 A' Design Awards, including this recognition. The awards were granted between the 2023 - 2024 and the 2025 - 2026 editions of the A' Design Award & Competition.
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/173192
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/173192
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!173192
- Laureate Profile: https://designers.org/d/345159
- Further Information from the Laureate: http://www.linkedin.com/in/ghazaleh-abbasian
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
- Virella Furniture
- Function
- Furniture
- Category
- Furniture Design
- Discipline
- Industrial Design
- Industry
- Furniture & Home
- Colors
- Dark Slate Gray, Dark Olive Green, Black, Lavender and Light Gray
- Images
- 5
- Client
- Ghazal
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Ghazaleh Abbasian
- Country
- Australia
- Recognition
- A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2025 - 2026
- Design ID
- #173192
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- This design stands out through its sculptural wooden form that seamlessly integrates seating, greenery, and lighting. The twisted geometry enhances ergonomic comfort while maintaining visual dynamism. Its modular structure allows flexible placement in various urban contexts, promoting both social interaction and ecological awareness.
- Inspiration
- The design is inspired by the continuity of natural forms and their interaction with the urban environment. The gradual twist of the wooden structure evokes a sense of movement, flexibility, and transformation. Integrating greenery within the form symbolized the return of natural life to urban spaces, where contemporary design, functionality, and environmental sustainability find a balanced harmony.
- Research
- This qualitative research explores how urban furniture design shapes user behavior and social interaction. Using observations, interviews, and ergonomic analysis, it found that thoughtful design guides behavior, respects boundaries, and fosters social harmony. The study highlights integrating ergonomics, psychology, and aesthetics to create inclusive, user-centered urban spaces.
- Challenge
- The main challenge is creating a piece that can be used for seating in public spaces while being both environmentally friendly and made from natural materials . At the same time, it must respect personal boundaries, bringing people together in a way that allows them to feel comfortable and at ease.
- Realization and Technology
- The product is composed of wooden planks in varying lengths, a linear LED light, and metal supports that ensure the bench remains level.
- Operation and Interaction
- The overall design of this product is composed of wooden planks arranged side by side, forming a twisted parametric shape. In the upper surface and central section of the bench, some of these planks are removed to create space for planting flowers and greenery. A linear LED light is integrated beneath the bench, following its curved form to illuminate the surrounding area in harmony with the design.
- Project Duration and Location
- Two months - Melbourne, Australia
- Specifications
- Height = 30 cm, Diameter = 30 cm
- Keywords
- Furniture, Sustainable, Bench, Public space.
