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Folding Abilaud by Max Niemiec

Folding Abilaud by Max Niemiec is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Rauaauhind A' Design Award in Mööblidisain Competition Category.


RaudMööbel· 2026

Folding Abilaud

by Max Niemiec

Client: Paul Maxwell

Rauaauhind A' Design Award Winner in Mööbel Category

5,047

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #180622

Colors

The Design

About Folding Abilaud

Folding on abilaud, mis toimib ühtlasi geomeetrilise skulptuurina, mida on mõeldud vaadelda igast küljest. Laud on valmistatud ühest lamineeritud lehtpuidust plaadist, mis on lõigatud neljaks tükiks ja seejärel uuesti ühendatud teravate ja nürinurksete nurkade all, nii et vorm näib olevat kokku volditud. Pikad koonusjad faasid viimistlevad tahulisi servi. Kokkupanekul kasutatakse tüübelliiteid, puidutöörakiseid ja spetsiaalseid pingutusmeetodeid. Plaat on volditud kolm korda ning igaüks neljast küljest pakub erinevat vaadet. Iga mõõde on 483 mm.

The Recognition

About the Rauaauhind A' Design Award

Folding Abilaud on Rauaauhinna A' Design Award võitja, prestiižikas tunnustus, mis antakse headele disainidele, mis vastavad professionaalsetele ja tööstuslikele nõuetele, mida oodatakse hästi disainitud töödelt. Raudvõitjad näitavad oma loojate suurt oskust, kõrget spetsialiseerumist, asjatundlikku mõistmist ja loomingulist võimekust. Folding Abilaud peaks olema kõrgelt hinnatud, imetletud ja armastatud looming, mis on praktiline ja uuenduslik. See Rauaauhinna A' Design Award võidudisain ühendab tööstuse parimaid tavasid ning tal on pädevad tehnilised omadused, mis on seotud oskusteabe ja andega. Folding Abilaud on austatud oma põhjalikkuse eest ning on loodud pakkuma elukvaliteedi parandusi, mis aitavad teha maailma paremaks paigaks.

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

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