El diseño Uni Mesa Auxiliar Uni de Xubai Li es un ganador altamente estimado del prestigioso 2026 A' Design Award de Bronce en la categoría de competición Diseño de Mobiliario.

BronceMobiliario· 2026

Uni Mesa Auxiliar Uni

de Xubai Li

Cliente: Xubai Li

Ganador del A' Design Award de Bronce en la Categoría Mobiliario

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El Diseño

Acerca de Uni Mesa Auxiliar Uni

La Uni integra las superficies interiores y exteriores para crear formas poco convencionales. Inspirada en el origami y el espacio negativo, Xubai Li la diseñó moldeando una lámina plana de aluminio hasta convertirla en un volumen tridimensional. Escalada desde modelos a una dieciseisava parte hasta prototipos a tamaño real, logra su estabilidad mediante una geometría basada en pliegues. Concebida para entornos urbanos, la Uni funciona tanto como mesa como objeto independiente, ofreciendo un espacio negativo despejado y movilidad para la vida moderna en estudio, manteniendo a la vez una apariencia discreta.

El Reconocimiento

Acerca del A' Design Award de Bronce

Uni Mesa Auxiliar Uni ha ganado el A' Design Award de Bronce, un reconocimiento sumamente prestigioso concedido a diseños sobresalientes que se distinguen por su creatividad, ingenio y astucia. Los ganadores de Bronce son artefactos ampliamente hábiles y sorprendentemente creativos que acreditan la vasta experiencia, imaginación e ingeniosidad de sus diseñadores. Se espera que Uni Mesa Auxiliar Uni sea un objeto muy apreciado, admirado y querido, notablemente profesional e innovador. Este diseño ganador del A' Design Award de Bronce incorpora las mejores prácticas del arte, la ciencia, el diseño y la tecnología, y es excelente por su atención al detalle. Uni Mesa Auxiliar Uni satisface espléndidamente las necesidades, toca los deseos, encanta los sentimientos y atrae la curiosidad.

Detrás del Diseño

Kit de Prensa

Créditos, miembros del equipo y detalles técnicos proporcionados por el diseñador.

Propiedades Únicas: Uni is a singular, continuous form that transmutes a flat aluminum sheet into a sophisticated, freestanding volume. By blurring the line between interior and exterior, the design achieves a structural duality where the tabletop and base exist as one uninterrupted gesture. Its innovation lies in this seamless geometry, offering a sculptural aesthetic that redefines traditional furniture assembly through minimalist rationale. This piece was designed by Xubai Li and manufactured by Bestcase in New York, United States, in a collaboration program, led by Rhode Island School of Design.
Dimensiones y Embalaje: 533 mm × 508 mm × 457 mm
Etiquetas: industrial decor, aluminum furniture, minimalist design, side table, sheet metal, sculptural furniture, origami
Tecnología de Producción: Uni is made with 5052 Aluminum sheet in .25-inch thickness. The process can be divided into three simple stages: 1. Roller Bending and Brake Press Bending 2. Edge Welding 3. Sand and Standard Waxed Finish to preserve the original aesthetic of the raw material.
Desafío de Diseño: The main challenge was finding a form that elegantly embodies the essence of origami while adapting to harsh sheet metal processes. Every additional pressed piece introduced unwanted aesthetic noise. To solve this, we minimized assembly to a singular, continuous form. We also bypassed standard industry powder coating; instead, a simple waxed finish preserved the aluminum's subtle shine, reducing maintenance while celebrating the material's raw, industrial elegance.
Investigación: The research for Uni was a hybrid of theoretical exploration and material investigation. The primary objective was to subvert traditional expectations of furniture by blurring the boundaries between interior and exterior spaces. The study sought to translate the philosophical principles of origami—transforming a flat, meaningless plane into a meaningful 3D volume—into a functional furniture silhouette.

The methodology employed a "form-from-flatness" approach, utilizing comparative analysis of contemporary sheet metal furniture and traditional origami techniques. Data collection included a literature review of origami philosophy and an analysis of Asian aesthetic principles regarding "negative space" as a poetic element. Additionally, market data from furniture e-commerce platforms was analyzed to identify consumer trends in urban high-density housing.

Technical feasibility was established through consultations with manufacturing specialists to define production constraints. Physical experimentation involved a rigorous iterative prototyping process:

Initial Phase: One-sixteenth and one-quarter scale models were used to test folding geometry.

Testing Phase: Full-scale models were constructed from plastic and strength-enhanced corrugated boards (0.25-inch thickness) to simulate final material behavior.

Review Phase: Interviews with design professionals were conducted to evaluate the aesthetic impact and functional utility of the prototypes.

The research revealed a market gap for pieces that balance "visual openness" with sculptural presence. A key insight was that studio and condo dwellers increasingly prioritize furniture that provides "breathing room" through negative space without sacrificing artistic permanence. Uni impacts the design field by offering a dual-purpose solution: a minimalist utility surface and a monumental sculpture. By utilizing blank space as a functional element, the design addresses the need for openness in small architectural footprints.
Inspiración: Inspired by origami, Uni explores the transformation of a two-dimensional aluminum plane into a self-supporting, multi-dimensional volume. The design utilizes fundamental roller bending techniques to transform a single sheet into a sophisticated, freestanding object. By eliminating traditional joinery in favor of a singular, continuous gesture, Uni achieves structural integrity.
Duración del Proyecto: The project started its design process in February 2024 in Providence, Rhode Island, United States, and finished its first edition for manufacturing in May 2025 in New York, United States, and was first exhibited in International Contemporary Furniture Fair 2025 in New York City, United States, and the Convention Center in the same month, in Rhode Island, United States.
Flujo de Operación: Uni isn't just a table; it's functional art. You interact with it by placing items on its surface or simply admiring it. As you walk around the room, its folded metal design visually transforms from a solid block into an airy, open sculpture. It performs better than standard furniture because it serves dual purposes: it provides a handy resting spot for everyday objects while elevating your space as a beautiful, free-floating centerpiece that doesn't need to be hidden away.
Créditos de Imagen: Image #1: Photographer Jonah Takagi, Uni, 2025.
Image #2: Creator Xubai Li, Uni, 2025.
Image #3: Creator Xubai Li, Uni, 2025.
Image #4: Creator Xubai Li, Uni, 2025.
Image #5: Creator Xubai Li, Uni, 2025.