Folding Tebụl Akụkụ by Max Niemiec is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Igwe in Nhazi Ngwá Ụlọ Competition Category.

IgweNgwá Ụlọ· 2026

Folding Tebụl Akụkụ

by Max Niemiec

Client: Paul Maxwell

Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Igwe Winner in Ngwá Ụlọ Category

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The Design

About Folding Tebụl Akụkụ

Folding bụ tebụl akụkụ nke na-ejekwa ozi dị ka ihe ọkpụkpụ jiometrị e mere ka a na-ele ya anya site n'akụkụ niile. E ji otu mbadamba osisi siri ike a machiri amachi mee tebụl a, a kpụrụ ya n'ibe anọ ma jikọtakwa ha ọzọ n'akụkụ akụkụ dị nkọ na ndị sara mbara, nke mere na ọdịdị ya na-adị ka a pịkọtara ya. Ọnụ ọnụ ndị e gbutere ogologo na-eme ka akụkụ ndị nwere ihu dị iche iche maa mma karị. A na-eji njikọ dowel, ngwá ọrụ ịkwa osisi na ụzọ pụrụ iche e ji ejide ihe eme njikọta ya. A pịkọtara mbadamba osisi ahụ ugboro atọ, ma akụkụ anọ ọ bụla na-egosi ọdịdị dị iche. Akụkụ ọ bụla ruru 483 mm.

The Recognition

About the Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Igwe

Folding Tebụl Akụkụ meriri A' Design Award nke Igwe, nnabata dị ugwu e nyere design ndị dị mma nke na-emezu ihe ndị a chọrọ n'ọrụ na ụlọ ọrụ nke a na-atụ anya n'ihe e kere eke ndị e mere nke ọma. Ndị meriri na Igwe na-egosi nka buru ibu, ọkachamara dị elu, nghọta ọkachamara na ikike imepụta nke ndị kere ha. A na-atụ anya na Folding Tebụl Akụkụ ga-abụ ihe e kere eke a na-asọpụrụ nke ukwuu, a na-eto na a hụrụ n'anya nke bụ ihe bara uru ma dị ọhụrụ. Design a meriri A' Design Award nke Igwe na-ejikọta ụzọ kacha mma nke ụlọ ọrụ ma nwee àgwà teknụzụ kwesịrị ekwesị jikọtara na ihe ọmụma na talent. A na-asọpụrụ Folding Tebụl Akụkụ maka nlezianya ya ma e mere ya ka ọ nye mmeziwanye ndụ nke na-enyere aka ime ka ụwa bụrụ ebe ka mma.

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