Iron Furniture Design · 2025
Flow Sideboard
by Yilmaz Dogan
- A' Design Award 2025 Iron Winner in Furniture Design
- Awarded April 15, 2025
- CLIENT: QZENS Furniture
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 10,726
- Verification code F50B7AE658 · Verify this award
About Flow Sideboard
Flow is a sideboard inspired by the 1930s Streamline style, combining fluid lines with modern aesthetics. Its design features curved wooden modules and custom metal components, finished in a matte lacquer with copper-toned accents. Unconventional, angled legs and specialized opening systems for drawers and cabinets create an aerodynamic yet practical form. The integration of high precision CNC techniques with traditional craftsmanship results in a contemporary piece that evokes retro-futuristic sensibilities while ensuring structural integrity.
Flow Sideboard by Yilmaz Dogan engages the enduring modernist pursuit of essential form wedded to purposeful function, situating itself within design lineages extending from the Bauhaus integration of craft and industrial production through Scandinavian humanism's celebration of natural materials and livable scale to contemporary minimalism's disciplined reduction, the work demonstrates sophisticated understanding of proportional systems, its asymmetrical composition likely governed by golden section relationships that create visual satisfaction through mathematical harmony while avoiding rigid symmetry's potential monotony, the chromatic restraint to ebonized black and warm natural timber establishes a dialogue between opposing material and symbolic registers, the dark lacquered volumes suggesting concealment, mystery, and urban sophistication while the exposed blonde wood compartment offers transparency, warmth, and organic connection, this interplay between opacity and revelation, between the hidden and the shown, creates a compositional tension that elevates the piece beyond mere utility into the realm of visual narrative, the vertical slat system within the revealed compartment demonstrates particular formal achievement, its regular rhythm creating a textural passage that catches and modulates light while providing functional organization, the spacing and dimensioning of these elements appears calibrated to accommodate various storage needs while maintaining visual coherence, suggesting the designer has successfully integrated ergonomic and aesthetic imperatives, the cantilevered upper plane extending beyond the lower establishes dynamic spatial relationship, creating protective overhang while emphasizing horizontal extension and suggesting hovering weightlessness despite substantial material presence, this gesture recalls the floating planes of De Stijl compositions and the dynamic cantilevers of mid-century modern architecture translated to furniture scale, the turned feet finished in matching ebony provide historical reference to classical furniture traditions while their simplified spherical terminals maintain contemporary vocabulary, this detail suggests the designer honors craft heritage while advancing formal innovation, the overall execution quality visible in edge treatments, surface finishes, and material junctions indicates accomplished fabrication, likely combining CNC precision for geometric elements with traditional joinery for structural integrity, the piece seems to explore themes of order and organization, rational systems made beautiful through careful proportion and material selection, the selective revelation of the storage compartment invites viewers to consider what remains hidden within the sealed volumes, creating speculative engagement beyond immediate visual experience, in domestic contexts this work would provide substantial storage while maintaining refined presence appropriate for contemporary interiors valuing restraint and quality, its horizontal emphasis and low profile allow it to inhabit space without dominating, serving as grounding element rather than focal spectacle, the design invites contemplation of how we organize and conceal our possessions, how furniture mediates between private storage and public presentation, and how beauty emerges from the thoughtful resolution of practical requirements through disciplined formal language, one might consider how this synthesis of concealment and transparency, of warm natural material and cool industrial finish, of historical reference and contemporary vocabulary, reflects broader cultural values around authenticity, craft, functionality, and aesthetic refinement in an era simultaneously celebrating artisanal tradition and technological precision.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Inspired by the Streamline style of the 1930s, Flow offers a unique aesthetic with its complementing fluid lines, curvatures that evoke a sense of movement, and sleek design.
With unconventional legs and functional opening systems for its drawers and cabinets, as well as the combination of wood and metal, Flow achieves a modern and contemporary look while also evoking a retro-futuristic sensation. - Dimensions & Packaging
- Width: 225 cm, Height: 70 cm, Depth: 50 cm. It offers ample storage space with unique drawer and cabinet opening systems. The specially crafted wooden surfaces, metal-supported opening mechanism, and retro-futuristic design lines complete the piece.
- Tags
- Flow, Streamline, Retro Futuristic, Wood, Metal, Speed, Modernity, Design, Elegance, Function.
- Production Technology
- Flow is crafted using high-precision Cnc shaped wooden modules and custom metal components. The body is finished with a matte lacquer coating, while the front surfaces are detailed with a special copper-toned metallic lacquer. The drawer and door systems are equipped with specialized rail mechanisms for smooth movement. Elegant metal supports and a uniquely angled leg design give the console a sense of lightness.
- Design Challenge
- The biggest design challenge of Flow was balancing the aerodynamic form with functionality. The goal was to integrate innovative opening systems without disrupting the fluid visual rhythm. The natural contrast between wood and metal was maintained to ensure structural integrity.
- Project Duration
- The design of Flow was initiated and completed in Ankara in 2024. It draws inspiration from the lines of the Streamline style, which the designer admired in American cars from the 1930s during his childhood. Flow synthesizes form and functionality with a timeless design approach.
- Operation Flow
- Flow offers functionality to the user with its custom opening mechanisms. The drawers and cabinet doors open smoothly with a light touch. Storage compartments in various depths and sizes provide users with a spacious and flexible storage area.
- Research
- The design process of Flow began with researching the aerodynamic forms and material usage of the 1930s Streamline style. Based on fluid lines and the concept of speed, a bridge was created between contemporary materials and classic aesthetics. The combination of wood and metal supported the dynamic spirit of the design.
- Inspiration
- Flow is inspired by the Streamline movement of the 1930s, which emphasized speed, efficiency, and aerodynamic forms, reflecting the spirit of modernism. This style, seen in everything from automobiles and trains to ships and architecture, merges functionality with aesthetics through fluid lines and sleek forms. Flow presents a contemporary interpretation of this movement’s elegant fluidity and forward-looking aesthetic.
- Image Credits
- A. Murat ARIK
Erinç ULUSOY
Giray AYDOS
Colors of Flow Sideboard
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G0E26 ShopGrand Interview about Flow Sideboard
With Flow Sideboard, I was drawn to the aerodynamic elegance of 1930s Streamline design—a style that celebrates movement, even in stillness. My intention wasn’t to replicate a vintage aesthetic, but to reinterpret its flowing language in a way that feels relevant today. I kept the form soft and continuous, removing visual breaks, while integrating modern storage solutions that suit contemporary living. This balance between nostalgic inspiration and functional clarity allowed the piece to feel both familiar and forward-looking.
The use of curved wood modules paired with copper-toned accents was a deliberate choice to evoke both warmth and movement. The wood grain enhances the soft contours, while the copper detailing reflects light in a way that reinforces the aerodynamic feel. I wanted materials that could express fluidity without compromising structure. These elements work together to create a gentle rhythm across the surface, almost like the sideboard is in motion. They also establish a tactile dialogue between organic and metallic textures.
Designing angled legs that appear light and dynamic, while still offering strong support, required close collaboration between design and engineering. The legs are not only tilted but also tapered, which meant we had to analyze load distribution carefully.
We approached this project by first defining what required absolute precision and where a human hand could bring emotional depth. CNC allowed us to shape the curved modules with exact tolerances, especially where multiple elements meet. But the final sanding, lacquer work, and copper detailing were all done by hand. This ensured each unit maintained individuality. By letting technology handle the repetition and craftsmanship bring soul, we achieved a result that feels both refined and expressive.
The fluid lines of the piece made us rethink how drawers and doors should open. Traditional handles or push-latches felt visually disruptive. So, we developed a recessed grip system that’s integrated into the form itself, following the curve of each module. It allows users to interact with the furniture naturally, without breaking its silhouette. This solution was both functional and poetic.
Flow Sideboard blends retro influences with futuristic clarity, and that creates a unique voice. I think there’s a growing desire in design to move away from rigid minimalism toward something more emotional and sculptural. This piece encourages that shift. It suggests that furniture can feel fast, soft, and personal, without losing its function.
We spent a lot of time refining the proportions to make sure the piece was visually balanced and functionally generous. The 225 cm width offers substantial storage, which is important for dining or living spaces, while the 70 cm height makes it approachable and ergonomic. The 50 cm depth allows for large objects without overwhelming the room. These measurements also helped maintain the long, low silhouette that defines streamline design.
I chose a soft matte lacquer for its ability to diffuse light and emphasize the contours of the form. It invites touch, avoids glare, and feels calm. The metallic accents were treated with a warm copper tone, not too polished, so they would gently contrast without overpowering the wood. This pairing of matte and metallic finishes was meant to create a layered, sensory experience. One that catches the eye but also rewards closer interaction.
At QZENS, we often talk about creating objects that live between sculpture and function. Flow Sideboard embodies that idea. It brings together clean geometry, expressive form, and thoughtful engineering. It’s not just about decoration or practicality. It’s about emotional resonance. This project pushes our vision forward by proving that design can be technically ambitious while still feeling human and warm. It’s a step toward more fluid, story-driven pieces in our collection.
Receiving the Iron A' Design Award was a meaningful recognition of the risks we took with Flow. What I think sets the design apart is how it integrates multiple layers: historical reference, engineering innovation, tactile beauty, into one coherent voice. It’s a piece that invites users to look twice, to engage with its form, and to discover new details over time. That’s the kind of experience I strive for in design, and Flow is a glimpse of where I hope to take furniture in the future.