Press Release
A' Design Award in Furniture Design Goes to Guama Lounge Chair by Rafael Oliva
The international grand jury of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition recognizes Rafael Oliva for furniture design
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 25, 2026 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has announced that Guama Lounge Chair by Rafael Oliva, designed for Labmobili, has been granted the A' Design Award in the Furniture Design category. The recognition forms part of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition and was decided through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who evaluated anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
What the A' Design Award Means
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.
More About Guama Lounge Chair
The collection evokes a modern throne through its minimal, contemporary, universal and unmistakably Brazilian design. Its quiet geometry distills form to essence, allowing the warmth and presence of solid wood to lead. Crafted from responsibly sourced timber, it balances industrial precision and delicate handwork, where heritage and material converge. Every line and texture honors the material, offering a tactile experience that bridges ancestral soul with modern minimalism. This collection celebrates nature’s raw power and the touch of human creativity.
About Rafael Oliva
Rafael Oliva is a product designer and co-founder of the furniture brand LABMOBILI. Drawing from a family heritage rooted in traditional carpentry, Rafael focuses on the intersection of industrial precision and craftsmanship. His work through LABMOBILI emphasizes the development of functional, durable furniture intended for contemporary living spaces. By integrating technical knowledge, local artesians with modern manufacturing processes, he contributes to the evolution of the local design industry.
Award Record
Rafael Oliva is a winner of 1 A' Design Award, including this recognition.
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/177584
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/177584
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!177584
- Laureate Profile: https://designers.org/d/374859
- Further Information from the Laureate: https://tinyurl.com/4wsnztsp
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
- Guama Lounge Chair
- Function
- Lounge Chair
- Category
- Furniture Design
- Discipline
- Industrial Design
- Industry
- Furniture & Home
- Colors
- Black, Dark Slate Gray, Rosy Brown, Tan and Dim Gray
- Images
- 5
- Client
- Labmobili
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Rafael Oliva
- Country
- Brazil
- Recognition
- A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2025 - 2026
- Design ID
- #177584
Credits
- Image Credits
- VEDAC.
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- The Guama Lounge Chair captures the strength and essence of wood in a minimalist, elegant, and timeless design. Inspired by the natural wealth of Para, each piece is carved from sustainably managed solid wood by VEDAC, paying tribute to the harmonious connection between humans and the forest. The purity of the lines and artisanal craftsmanship reveal not only the beauty of the material but also the skill of the local artisans.
- Inspiration
- The Guama Lounge Chair was inspired by the Amazonian landscapes of Para, where wood embodies both strength and serenity. The project seeks to express this essence through minimalist geometry and precise craftsmanship. Developed from research into local woodworking traditions and sustainable practices, it translates nature's raw vitality into refined, timeless design.
- Research
- We conducted exploratory research to bridge Amazonian craftsmanship with industrial scale. Using ethnographic tools and interviews with local artisans, we studied traditional woodworking. Results showed a gap between raw manual skill and market durability. Insights led to a modular assembly system that preserves aesthetic soul while optimizing logistics. This impacts the industry by proving sustainable regional design can be globally competitive, boosting local economies and design ethics.
- Challenge
- The hardest part was balancing Amazonian identity with industrial viability. We faced the challenge of translating ancestral woodworking into a scalable production logic. Overcoming logistical hurdles required innovating in joinery and modularity. Internally, we had to respect traditional aesthetics while meeting rigid durability standards. This synthesis turned regional soul into a competitive, high-quality industrial product.
- Realization and Technology
- The Guama collection is produced in Para by VEDAC, using sustainably managed Amazonian wood. Combining advanced CNC technology with precise manual finishing, it demonstrates that the region unites innovation and craftsmanship. Each piece reflects technological excellence, respect for nature, and the refinement of contemporary Brazilian design.
- Operation and Interaction
- The Guama Lounge Chair was designed for intuitive interaction and visual lightness. Each piece invites touch through its softened edges and balanced proportions. The solid wood structure ensures strength and durability, while its minimalist design enhances versatility in different spaces. The precise joinery and smooth finish elevate comfort, tactility, and timeless performance.
- Project Duration and Location
- I designed the collection in January 2025 in Sao Paulo at LABMOBILI and it was manufactured in Sao Miguel do Guama by VEDAC in early February 2025. It was exhibited in the Fuori Salone in Milan in April 2025.
- Specifications
- Hieght: 100cm Width: 75cm Depth: 78cm
- Keywords
- armchair, lounge chair, brazil, pará, amazon, amazônia, sustainable wood
