Moralo oa Uni Uni Side Table ka Xubai Li ke mohlodi oa khau e hlomphehang haholo ya 2026 Moputso oa Boronse oa A' Design Award Mokhahleong oa Tlhodisano oa Moralo wa Fenitjhara.

BoronseFenitjhara· 2026

Uni Uni Side Table

ka Xubai Li

Moreki: Xubai Li

Mohlodi oa Moputso oa Boronse oa A' Design Award Mokhahleong oa Fenitjhara

6,474

Mohlodi oa Khau ea Netefaditsweng

Netefatsa Boemo ba Khau bakeng sa #182518

Etela Sebaka Sheba ho A' Design Award Tokollo ya Boraditaba Baeche ya Moputso

Mebala

Moralo

Mabapi le Uni Uni Side Table

Uni e kopanya libaka tsa ka hare le tsa ka ntle ho theha mefuta e sa tloaelehang. A susumetsoa ke origami le sebaka se sa sebetseng, Xubai Li o e qapile ka ho bopa lekhasi le bataletseng la aluminium hore e be bophahamo bo nang le mahlakore a mararo. E lekantsoeng ho tloha ho mefuta ea karolo ea leshome le metso e tšeletseng ho ea ho li-prototype tsa boholo ba sebele, e fihlella botsitso ka jeometri e itšetlehileng ka mekhi. E reretsoe libaka tsa litoropo, Uni e sebetsa e le tafole le ntho e itšehetseng ka boeona, e fana ka sebaka se sa sebetseng se sa thibeloang le ho falla bakeng sa bophelo ba sutu ea sejoale-joale ha e ntse e boloka ponahalo e sa hlokomeleheng.

Kamohelo

Mabapi le Moputso oa Boronse oa A' Design Award

Uni Uni Side Table ke mohapi oa Moputso oa Boronse oa A' Design Award, kananelo e hlomphehang haholo e fuoang meralo e ikhethang e tsejoang ka boqapi, bohlale ba ho qapa le bohlale. Bahapi ba Boronse ke lintho tse nang le bokhoni ka ho felletseng le boqapi bo hlollang tse tiisang boiphihlelo bo bongata, mohopolo le bokhoni ba ho iphumana ba baqapi ba tsona. Uni Uni Side Table e lebelletsoe ho ba ntho e hlomphuoang haholo, e ratoang le e ratehang, e nang le boprofeshenale bo bonahalang le mehopolo e mecha. Moralo ona o hapileng Moputso oa Boronse oa A' Design Award o kenyelletsa mekhoa e metle ka ho fetesisa bonong, mahlaleng, moralong le theknolojing mme o hlahella ka ho tsepamisa maikutlo lintlheng tse nyenyane. Uni Uni Side Table e kutloisisa litlhoko hantle, e ama litakatso, e hapa maikutlo mme e tsosa takatso ea ho tseba.

Ka Mora Moralo

Sete ya Boraditaba

Litlhaku, ditho tsa sehlopha le lintlha tsa botekgeniki tse fanoeng ke moetsi wa moralo.

Boleng bo Ikhethang: 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.
Boholo le Phuthelo: 533 mm × 508 mm × 457 mm
Lithegi: industrial decor, aluminum furniture, minimalist design, side table, sheet metal, sculptural furniture, origami
Theknoloji ya Tlhahiso: 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.
Phephetso ya Moralo: 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.
Dipatlisiso: 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.
Kgothaletso: 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.
Nako ya Projeke: 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.
Tsamaiso ya Mosebetsi: 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.
Litlotla tsa Setshwantsho: 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.