Press Release
Alena Bulataya Receives the Silver A' Design Award for Incline Modular Seating in Furniture Design
Alena Bulataya recognized for furniture design by the international grand jury of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, January 19, 2026 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has announced that Incline Modular Seating by Alena Bulataya has been granted the Silver 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.
What the Silver A' Design Award Means
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.
More About Incline Modular Seating
The Incline Soft Collection combines architectural clarity with inviting comfort. Defined by inclined planes and calm geometry, the system offers sofas, chaises, and lounge modules that can be rearranged for residential or hospitality spaces. Its modular logic allows compact or expansive layouts, while refined craftsmanship ensures durability. Soft contours balance structural precision, creating a timeless design statement inspired by the desert landscapes of Dubai, where the collection was first envisioned.
About Alena Bulataya
Alena Bulataya is an internationally practicing interior and product designer, Founder and Creative Director of AB Design Buro, with more than 17 years of professional experience across the United States, the Middle East, Europe and Asia. Her practice spans luxury residential, hospitality, restaurants and cafés, healthcare and aesthetic medicine, beauty and commercial interiors, as well as furniture and product design. Her work has received international awards and recognition, including the Silver A’ Design Award, Interior Design HiP Awards / NeoCon recognition, international competition distinctions and exhibition in Manhattan, New York City.
Award Record
With this recognition, Alena Bulataya is 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/176443
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/176443
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!176443
- Laureate Profile: https://designers.org/d/373495
- Further Information from the Laureate: https://bit.ly/incline-photos
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
- Incline Modular Seating
- Function
- Modular Seating
- Category
- Furniture Design
- Discipline
- Industrial Design
- Industry
- Furniture & Home
- Colors
- Silver, Dark Gray, Gray, Light Gray and Maroon
- Images
- 5
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Alena Bulataya
- Country
- United States of America
- Recognition
- Silver A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2025 - 2026
- Design ID
- #176443
Credits
- Image Credits
- Design: Alena Bulataya – Designer 3D Visualization: Alena Bulataya Design Buro Manufacturer: VINCENTE Furniture Video: Alena Bulataya Design Buro Photos: VINCENTE Furniture
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- Users compose seating layouts by joining modules with concealed quick-lock connectors; no tools are required. Pieces can be reconfigured in minutes—from a compact sofa to a lounge island or chaise-led arrangement. Removable covers simplify cleaning and replacement. Standard floor glides protect surfaces and allow easy moves.
- Inspiration
- Incline was inspired by architectural geometry and inclined planes, creating a balance of clarity and comfort. The collection was conceived in Dubai, where the desert dunes inspired the soft gradients and warm tones of its palette. The design brings structural precision and timeless calm to both residential and hospitality spaces.
- Research
- Research focused on modular ergonomics, upholstery durability, and sustainable use. We tested seat-back angles, studied reconfiguration in homes and hotels, and evaluated removable cover systems. Results showed a 6–8 deg incline gives optimal comfort, while replaceable parts extend lifespan and reduce waste.
- Challenge
- The hardest challenge was creating a slim, elegant profile while ensuring strength and precision joints. Foam or wood frames looked bulky or weak. The solution was an internal steel frame and CNC-cut templates for accuracy. This achieved smooth continuous curves, gap-free connections, and long-term durability.
- Realization and Technology
- Frames are built from kiln-dried hardwood and engineered plywood with internal steel brackets for rigidity. High-resilience polyurethane foam forms the ergonomic profile. Upholstery options include performance fabrics, wool blends, and leather; covers are zippered and replaceable. Powder-coated metal bases and connectors ensure durability. Packaging is flat and recyclable to reduce transport volume.
- Operation and Interaction
- The modules connect with hidden quick-lock brackets, allowing users to reconfigure layouts without tools. A sofa can transform into a lounge island, a chaise, or individual chairs within minutes. Removable covers make cleaning and replacement simple. The design improves daily use by combining flexibility, comfort, and long-term durability in one system.
- Project Duration and Location
- Concept in 2023; design development and prototyping in 2024–2025. Work designed in Dubai, UAE and manufactured in Minsk, Belarus.
- Specifications
- Seat modules: 530, 630, 730, 830, 1260, 1590, 1980 mm wide; depth 830 mm; height 420 mm + 35 mm base. Back modules: 950–1600 mm wide; height 700 mm; incline 6–8 deg. Compositions: 2-seat 2206 mm, 3-seat 3085 mm, chaise 1980 mm, corner 2726 mm. Fire-safe foams and fabrics available. Modules ship flat in recyclable cartons.
- Keywords
- modular seating, sofa design, lounge chair, chaise, furniture design, interior design, hospitality furniture, residential furniture, contemporary furniture, sustainable design
