Folding Mesa auxiliar by Max Niemiec is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award de Hierro in Diseño de Mobiliario Competition Category.

HierroMobiliario· 2026

Folding Mesa auxiliar

by Max Niemiec

Client: Paul Maxwell

A' Design Award de Hierro Winner in Mobiliario Category

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Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #180622

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Folding Mesa auxiliar

Folding es una mesa auxiliar que funciona además como una escultura geométrica concebida para ser contemplada desde todos sus lados. La mesa está realizada a partir de una única plancha de madera dura laminada, cortada en cuatro piezas y unida de nuevo siguiendo ángulos agudos y obtusos, de modo que la forma parece haber sido plegada. Unos chaflanes largos y afilados refinan las aristas facetadas. Para el ensamblaje se emplean uniones con espigas, plantillas de carpintería y métodos especiales de sujeción. La plancha se pliega tres veces y cada uno de los cuatro lados ofrece una vista diferente. Cada dimensión mide 483 mm.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award de Hierro

Folding Mesa auxiliar ha ganado el A' Design Award de Hierro, un reconocimiento prestigioso concedido a buenos diseños que cumplen los requisitos profesionales e industriales que se esperan de creaciones bien diseñadas. Los ganadores de Hierro demuestran gran habilidad, alta especialización, comprensión experta y capacidad creativa de sus creadores. Se espera que Folding Mesa auxiliar sea una creación muy apreciada, admirada y querida, práctica e innovadora. Este diseño ganador del A' Design Award de Hierro integra las mejores prácticas del sector y tiene características técnicas competentes unidas a conocimiento práctico y talento. Folding Mesa auxiliar es respetado por su minuciosidad y está concebido para aportar mejoras en la calidad de vida que ayudan a hacer del mundo un lugar mejor.

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