Folding Bytafel by Max Niemiec is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award yn Izer in Meubelûntwerp Competition Category.
IzerMeubels· 2026
Folding Bytafel
by Max Niemiec
Client: Paul Maxwell
A' Design Award yn Izer Winner in Meubels Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #180622The Design
About Folding Bytafel
Folding is in bytafel dy't tagelyk tsjinnet as in geometryske skulptuer dy't fan alle kanten besjoen wurde moat. De tafel is makke fan ien inkelde laminearre hurdhouten plaat, dy't yn fjouwer stikken snien is en wer gearfoege lâns skerpe en stompe hoeken, sadat de foarm liket as is er teard. Lange, taspitsende ôfskuningen ferfine de fasettearre rânen. Foar de gearstalling wurde deuvelferbiningen, houtbewurkingsmallen en spesjale klemmetoaden brûkt. De plaat is trije kear teard, en elk fan de fjouwer kanten toant in oar oansicht. Elke ôfmjitting is 483 mm.
The Recognition
About the A' Design Award yn Izer
Folding Bytafel is in winner fan de A' Design Award yn Izer, in prestisjeuze erkenning foar goede ûntwerpen dy't foldogge oan de profesjonele en yndustriële easken dy't ferwachte wurde fan goed ûntwurpen skeppings. Izerwinners litte grutte feardigens, hege spesjalisaasje, deskundich begryp en kreatyf fermogen fan har makkers sjen. Fan Folding Bytafel wurdt ferwachte dat it in tige heech achte, bewûndere en dierbere skepping is dy't praktysk en ynnovatyf is. Dit winnende ûntwerp fan de A' Design Award yn Izer yntegrearret de bêste praktiken fan de sektor en hat feardige technyske skaaimerken ferbûn mei kennis en talint. Folding Bytafel wurdt respektearre foar syn yngeandens en is ûntwurpen om ferbetteringen fan de kwaliteit fan it libben te leverjen dy't helpe de wrâld ta in bettere plak te meitsjen.
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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