Uni Ọ̀kpọ́tọ́ Akụkụ Uni by Xubai Li is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Bronz in Nhazi Ngwá Ụlọ Competition Category.

BronzNgwá Ụlọ· 2026

Uni Ọ̀kpọ́tọ́ Akụkụ Uni

by Xubai Li

Client: Xubai Li

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

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The Design

About Uni Ọ̀kpọ́tọ́ Akụkụ Uni

Uni na-ejikọta elu ime na elu mpụga iji mepụta ụdị na-adịghị nkịtị. N'iwetara mmụọ site na origami na oghere efu, Xubai Li haziri ya site n'ịkpụzi mpempe aluminum dị larịị ka ọ bụrụ olu nwere akụkụ atọ. E mere ka ọ dịkwuo elu site n'ụdị nlele otu n'ime iri na isii ruo n'ọ̀tụ̀tụ̀ izizi ruru eru, ọ na-enweta nkwụsi ike site na geometry dabere na mpịaji. Atụ̀rụ̀ ụ̀zọ̀ ya maka gburugburu obodo mepere emepe, Uni na-arụ ọrụ dị ka tebụl na ihe na-eguzo onwe ya, na-enye oghere efu na-enweghị mgbochi na ngagharị maka ndụ ụlọ ọrụ nke oge a ebe ọ na-edebe ọdịdị na-adịghị akpaghasị.

The Recognition

About the Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Bronz

Uni Ọ̀kpọ́tọ́ Akụkụ Uni meriri A' Design Award nke Bronz, nnabata dị oke ugwu e nyere design ndị pụtara ìhè nke a ma ama maka nzụlite ihe, ọgụgụ isi na nghọta. Ndị meriri na Bronz bụ ihe e mere nke ndị nwere nka nke ukwuu ma dị mma n'imepụta nke na-egosi ahụmahụ buru ibu, echiche na ọgụgụ isi nke ndị designer ha. A na-atụ anya na Uni Ọ̀kpọ́tọ́ Akụkụ Uni ga-abụ ihe a na-asọpụrụ nke ukwuu, a na-eto na a hụrụ n'anya, nke dị oke ọrụ ma dị ọhụrụ. Design a meriri A' Design Award nke Bronz na-agụnye ụzọ kacha mma n'ime nka, sayensị, design na teknụzụ, ma dị mma nke ukwuu maka nlebara anya ya n'obere ihe. Uni Ọ̀kpọ́tọ́ Akụkụ Uni na-emezu mkpa nke ọma, na-emetụ ọchịchọ aka, na-adọrọ mmetụta obi ma na-adọta ọchịchọ ịmara.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: 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.
Dimensions & Packaging: 533 mm × 508 mm × 457 mm
Tags: industrial decor, aluminum furniture, minimalist design, side table, sheet metal, sculptural furniture, origami
Production Technology: 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.
Design Challenge: 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.
Research: 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.
Inspiration: 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.
Project Duration: 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.
Operation Flow: 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.
Image Credits: 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.