Press Release
The First One Nightstand by Luisa Gonzalez Mijares Is Granted the A' Design Award in Furniture Design
Luisa Gonzalez Mijares honored for furniture design by the international grand jury of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, September 24, 2025 /DesignNewswire/ The First One Nightstand by Luisa Gonzalez Mijares, designed for Luisa Gonzalez Mjares, has been granted the A' Design Award in the Furniture Design category, A' Design Award & Competition has announced. The recognition forms part of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition and was determined through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who evaluated anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
What the A' Design Award Means
The Iron A' Design Award is awarded to good designs that meet the rigorous professional and industrial standards set by the A' Design Awards. This recognition is reserved for works that demonstrate a solid understanding of design principles and show creativity within their execution. Recipients of the Iron A' Design Award are acknowledged for their practical innovations and contributions to their respective fields, providing solutions that improve quality of life and foster positive change. These designs are a testament to the skill and dedication of their creators, showcasing their ability to address real-world challenges through thoughtful design.
Regarding The First One Nightstand
This cabinet merges traditional woodworking with modern style, using salvaged teak and birch plywood. Time-honored joinery and hand-crafted finishes showcase artisanship, while slatted patterns and varied hues lend a modern touch. The textured slats produce visual effects and dynamic shadows as the door shifts, adding playful energy and artistry. This blend honours classic methods whilst incorporating modern materials, ensuring functionality and expression.
About Luisa Gonzalez Mijares
Architect, Furniture Maker and Entrepreneur Passionate about design, making with a recycling emphasis and totally community oriented. Now co- leading a non profit community project called CreativeLooe, where we feel thrilled to introduce this incredible initiative, inspired by passionate members of the Looe community, who are committed to enrich lives through creativity, heritage and community engagement. This is a vibrant space created for everyone to explore their creativity with the amazing talents of our local community, which come together to celebrate and support imagination and innovation!
Award Record
Luisa Gonzalez Mijares is a winner of 1 A' Design Award, including this recognition.
About the A' Furniture Design Award
The A' Furniture Design Award is an international furniture competition recognizing good furniture designs by best furniture designers worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to furniture designers, product designers, industrial design studios and furniture brands from all countries. Typical entries include chairs, tables, sofas, beds, cabinets and shelves. The awarded furniture designs are published at https://designers.org/design-category/furniture
About A' Design Award & Competition
Organized annually since 2008, A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The philanthropic mission of the A' Design Award is to advance society through good design, by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Nominations are peer reviewed and evaluated anonymously by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. Eligible laureates receive the A' Design Prize, which includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, uploading a work and receiving a preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. More information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://designers.org/176307
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/176307
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!176307
- Laureate Profile: https://designers.org/d/373194
- Further Information from the Laureate: https://rb.gy/qiea0o
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- The First One Nightstand
- Function
- Nightstand
- Category
- Furniture Design
- Discipline
- Industrial Design
- Industry
- Furniture & Home
- Colors
- Saddle Brown, Black, Wheat, Sienna and Rosy Brown
- Images
- 5
- Client
- Luisa Gonzalez Mjares
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Luisa Gonzalez Mijares
- Country
- Great Britain
- Recognition
- A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2025 - 2026
- Design ID
- #176307
Credits
- Image Credits
- All images Photographer : Remi Cribb
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- This cabinet blends traditional woodworking with modern flair using reclaimed solid teak and Birch Plywood. Classic joinery and hand-finishing highlight craftsmanship, while slatted designs and contrasting tones add a contemporary edge. The textured slats create optical illusions and shifting shadows as the door moves, infusing playful dynamism and art into the piece. This fusion respects heritage techniques while embracing innovative design, making it both functional and expressive.
- Inspiration
- This furniture design project came from my studies. I had to work with set proportions, one drawer and one door. I did not find the guidelines nor proportions appealing, therfore I experimented with optical illusions to make the drawer and door blend, and visually giving the piece a lighter floating perception. I drew inspiration from Carlos Cruz Diez, the clean lines of Japanese design and from the conviction that any object can blend with art and functionality.
- Research
- Crafting solid wood furniture in coastal Cornwall remains a challenge due to high humidity over 80 in uninsulated 1700s1800s stone cottages and sea breezes, causing wood to swell warp and loosen joints affecting function look and durability. Combining traditional joinery with stable birch plywood and reclaimed teak which resists moisture and salty air ensures furniture stays structurally sound in Cornish coastal climate The piece has been tested in various environments to prove its stability
- Challenge
- The creative challenge was to transform the proportions given by the guidelines into something aesthetically acceptable or pleasing to my criteria by the incorporation of optical illusions in the design to distract the eye from the given proportions.
- Realization and Technology
- This furniture piece blends traditional and modern woodworking. Dovetail joints create a sturdy, classic drawer, while marriage joints ensure precise wood connections. Biscuit joinery strengthens the carcass, and teak edge lipping enhances plywood durability and elegance. Hand-routed grooves hold teak slats, creating a striking optical illusion and floating effect.
- Operation and Interaction
- The operation and interaction of this furniture piece are intentionally subtle, designed to conceal any obvious function while integrating decorative elements as operational handles, The vertical teak slats a whilst a aesthetic feature doubles as handles for both the door and the traditional drawer creating a seamless flow. Opening the door reveals the interior while pulling the drawer engages the same slatted design blending utility with art. This interplay ensures the units purpose remains discreet inviting users to explore its kinetic charm and optical illusions through tactile engagement enhancing both form and function.
- Project Duration and Location
- The project started in February 2024 and ended in July 2024 in the Cornwall College Camborne, Cornwall, UK. The piece remained in exhibition in the College gallery for a another year when they offered to but it from me. Sadly I had to decline the offer at the time, but might consider donating it to them instead at some point in the future.
- Specifications
- Hight 500mm, Width 400mm, Depth 300mm
- Keywords
- Furniture, Reclaimed, wood, plywood, optical illusion, stability, art
