Xanxan シェルフ by Smallgran studio is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2017 A' Design Award 銅賞 in 家具デザイン Competition Category.
銅家具· 2017
Xanxan シェルフ
Client: Smallgran
A' Design Award 銅賞 Winner in 家具 Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #57563The Design
About Xanxan シェルフ
Xanxanは、輸送や保管に必要なスペースを削減することを目的に設計された、構成を自由にカスタマイズできるシェルフです。デザインは2本のアンカーポストで構成され、そこにストリング（紐）が網状に張られています。シンプルな機構により、使用者は各ストリングの張力を調整し、まっすぐな支持面をつくり出すことができます。Xanxanは一般的なシェルフと同じものを収納できるだけでなく、ハンガーとしても使用可能です。一般的なシェルフと比較して、Xanxanは木材の使用量が7分の1、保管スペースが9分の1、重量は4分の1に抑えられています。アンカーポストにはメープル材が用いられています。
The Recognition
About the A' Design Award 銅賞
Xanxan シェルフは、創造性、独創性、鋭い洞察力で際立つ傑出したデザインに授与される、高い権威をもつ評価である A' Design Award 銅賞の受賞作品です。銅賞の受賞作品は、十分に巧みで印象的なほど創造的な工芸品であり、デザイナーの豊富な経験、想像力、機知を裏づけています。Xanxan シェルフは、高く評価され、称賛され、愛される品であり、顕著にプロフェッショナルで革新的であることが期待されます。この A' Design Award 銅賞を受賞したデザインは、芸術・科学・デザイン・技術のベストプラクティスを取り入れており、細部への配慮に優れています。Xanxan シェルフは、ニーズを見事に満たし、欲求に触れ、感情を魅了し、好奇心を引きつけます。
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- Xanxan is a shelf featuring customizable configurations and optimized transport and storage space.
The product consists of two anchor posts to which a web of strings is fastened. It includes a simple mechanism that allows the user to adjust the tension of each string in order to provide a straight support surface.
Xanxan can hold everything a standard shelf holds and it can act as a hanger, too. But more importantly: compared to a standard shelf, Xanxan uses seven times less wood, requires a storage space nine times lower and weights four times less. - Dimensions & Packaging
- Product: 300-1500* mm x 220 mm x 85 mm.
* This dimension depends on how it is installed.
Package: 90 mm x 70 mm x 245 mm
Weight supported: up to 20 kg. - Tags
- Xanxan, Minimum Shelf, Shelf, Adaptable, Customizable, Hanger, Space Saving, Material Saving, Sustainable, Cord, Rope
- Production Technology
- The wooden pieces are formed by lathing the hard Maple Wood and later drilling the holes: three for the screws at the base and four for the strings at the pole. This process can be done by hand for loose units or through automated processes for industrial scale units.
The string is a standard Paracord that the user cuts at a specific length according to the distance at which the two anchor posts are installed. - Design Challenge
- The main design challenge was to develop a fresh solution while reducing the material and ecological cost of an existing concept.
From the technical perspective, we had three challenges:
- Designing a tensioning mechanism. It had to fix the strings allowing for progressive tensioning and we needed to keep it simple to maintain the cost low.
- Finding a wood that is light-weight, cheap, resistant and tough enough.
- Finding a rope that holds its mechanical and dimensional properties over time. - Research
- This project was driven by market research and experimentation.
After finding a market niche in adaptable shelves, the concept design phase was based on modeling and testing. We had to meet the requisites fixed by the best-selling shelves, so we developed several prototypes and tested them. The final solution was picked based on its simplicity, performance and interaction.
At the detailed design phase, we worked with master carpenters to pick the best materials and shape manufacture-wise. - Inspiration
- Xanxan was first conceived under the challenge of reducing the material cost and ecological impact of an existing concept. As market research went on, the lack of flexibility and adaptability of the existing shelves to user and space needs drove the project to the final solution.
The project was self-commissioned from the studio itself as a means to prove its design skills. - Project Duration
- The project started in the Polytechnical University of Valencia, where its first 5 months of development took part. After finishing their degree, Smallgran founders created the Valencia based studio where the design was then finished after 7 more months of work.
- Operation Flow
- For the installation, the user first needs to decide the position of each post. With the anchor posts fixed, four string segments are then tied to them in a zig-zag manner. After the strings are installed, the pegs must be turned. With every turn, the strand twists on itself increasing its tension becoming able to support weight.
Once the strings are taut, the shelf can be filled with books, Cd's, etc. Over time the shelf can lose its tension, this is fixed by giving the pegs a few more turns. - Team Members
- Luis Herram
Carles Marquina Selfa
Francesc Duart Escribà
Carlos Carrasco Fraile
Borja Miret García - Image Credits
- Image #1: Smallgran, Xanxan, 2016.
Image #2: Smallgran, Xanxan, 2016.
Image #3: Smallgran, Xanxan, 2016.
Image #4: Smallgran, Xanxan, 2016.
Image #5: Smallgran, Xanxan, 2016.
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