Dizayini ya Uni Primary Function: Tebulo Lapambali la Uni ndi Xubai Li ndi wopambana wotamandika kwambiri pa mphotho yaulemu ya 2026 Mphoto ya Bronze ya A' Design Award mu Gawo la Mpikisano la Mapangidwe a Fenicha.
BronzeFenicha· 2026
Uni Primary Function: Tebulo Lapambali la Uni
ndi Xubai Li
Kasitomala: Xubai Li
Wopambana pa Mphoto ya Bronze ya A' Design Award mu Gawo la Fenicha
Wopambana Wotsimikizidwa
Tsimikizani Mkhalidwe wa Mphotho ya #182518Kapangidwe
Za Uni Primary Function: Tebulo Lapambali la Uni
Book Text: Uni imaphatikiza nkhope za mkati ndi zakunja kuti ipange mawonekedwe achilendo. Atalimbikitsidwa ndi origami ndi malo otseguka, Xubai Li adailenga popanga pepala losalala la aluminiyamu kukhala chinthu cha mbali zitatu. Yokulitsa kuchokera ku mitundu ya gawo limodzi mwa khumi ndi zisanu ndi chimodzi mpaka mapulototaipu okwanira, imakwaniritsa kukhazikika kudzera mu jiyometri yochokera ku kupinda. Yopangidwira malo a mumzinda, Uni imagwira ntchito ngati tebulo komanso chinthu choyimira pa chokha, ikupereka malo otseguka osatchinjirizidwa ndi kuyenda kwa moyo wamakono wa studio pomwe ikusunga maonekedwe osasokoneza.
Chidziwitso
Za Mphoto ya Bronze ya A' Design Award
Uni Primary Function: Tebulo Lapambali la Uni ndi mmodzi mwa opambana a Mphoto ya Bronze ya A' Design Award, kuzindikirika kolemekezeka kwambiri komwe kumaperekedwa kwa mapangidwe abwino kwambiri omwe amaonekera ndi luso lolenga, kuchenjera ndi nzeru zakuthwa. Opambana a Bronze ndi zinthu zaluso kwambiri ndi zolenga modabwitsa zomwe zimatsimikizira zochitika zazikulu, kulingalira ndi kuchenjera kwa opanga awo. Uni Primary Function: Tebulo Lapambali la Uni akuyembekezeka kukhala chinthu choyamikiridwa, chosirira ndi chokondedwa, chaukatswiri wapadera ndi chatsopano. Mapangidwe opambana Mphoto ya Bronze ya A' Design Award awa amaphatikiza machitidwe abwino kwambiri a luso, sayansi, kapangidwe ndi ukadaulo ndipo ndi abwino kwambiri chifukwa cha kusamala kwawo zazing'ono. Uni Primary Function: Tebulo Lapambali la Uni amakwaniritsa zosowa mokongola, kukhudza zilakolako, kukopa mitima ndi kudzutsa chidwi.
Kumbuyo kwa Kapangidwe
Katundu wa Atolankhani
Umboni, mamembala a gulu ndi zambiri zapadera zoperekedwa ndi wopanga.
- Makhalidwe Apadera
- 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.
- Miyezo ndi Kuphimba
- 533 mm × 508 mm × 457 mm
- Zizindikiro
- industrial decor, aluminum furniture, minimalist design, side table, sheet metal, sculptural furniture, origami
- Teknoloji Yopangira
- 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.
- Vuto la Dizayini
- 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.
- Kafukufuku
- 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. - Chilimbikitso
- 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.
- Nthawi ya Polojekiti
- 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.
- Mdondomeko ya Ntchito
- 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.
- Mwini Zithunzi
- 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.
Zolipidwa
Fufuzani Kupitilira Designers.org
Onani zinthu, ntchito ndi mwayi kuchokera kwa ogulitsa athu aulaliki.
Zina Zofufuza
Mapangidwe Ofanana
Fufuzani mapangidwe ena opambana mphotho ochokera mu gulu lomweli, osankhidwa malinga ndi ukadaulo.
