Banana Na Na Umfanekiso Wokuhlobisa by Kazoo Design Studio

Banana Na Na Umfanekiso Wokuhlobisa by Kazoo Design Studio is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Umklomelo Wensimbi we-A' Design Award in Izinto Zasekhaya Competition Category.

InsimbiIzinto Zasekhaya· 2026

Banana Na Na Umfanekiso Wokuhlobisa

by Kazoo Design Studio

Client: Kazoo Design Studio

Umklomelo Wensimbi we-A' Design Award Winner in Izinto Zasekhaya Category

4,988

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #175683

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Banana Na Na Umfanekiso Wokuhlobisa

I-Banana Na Na iwumfanekiso wokuhlobisa owenziwe nge-porcelain onesimo sikabhanana omile ngokuqonda. Lesi simo sihlola ukuthi umumo owaziwayo ungaguqulwa kangakanani kodwa usalokhu ubonakala uwuwo. Isimo esiwu-U sisonke sinikeza umuzwa wokulingana, kanti imigqa ehlukanisiwe nesontekile yengeza umuzwa wesigqi. Le migqa iphinde isebenze njengezinyawo ezisekelayo, ngoba lo msebenzi awunaso isisekelo esiyisicaba. I-Banana Na Na yakhiwe ngokwedijithali yabe isiphrintwa ngobukhulu obuthathu njengesibonelo sokuqala, yabe isibunjwa nge-porcelain kusetshenziswa isifolomo sikakhonkolo esinezingxenye ezine. Ububanzi bungamasentimitha angu-19, ukujula kungamasentimitha angu-4.3 kanti ukuphakama kungamasentimitha angu-8.

The Recognition

About the Umklomelo Wensimbi we-A' Design Award

Banana Na Na Umfanekiso Wokuhlobisa iwinile uMklomelo Wensimbi we-A' Design Award, ukwaziswa okuhloniphekile okunikezwa imiklamo emihle ehlangabezana nezidingo zobungcweti nezemboni ezilindelekile ezimpahleni ezihlelwe kahle. Abawinile beNsimbi babonisa ikhono elikhulu, ubungcweti obuphezulu, ukuqonda kochwepheshe namandla okudala abadali babo. Banana Na Na Umfanekiso Wokuhlobisa ilindeleke ukuba ibe yinto exatshwa kakhulu, edunyiswayo nethandwayo esebenzayo nenezinto ezintsha. Lo mklamo owinile uMklomelo Wensimbi we-A' Design Award uhlanganisa izindlela ezinhle kakhulu zemboni futhi unezimfanelo zobuchwepheshe ezifanelekile ezihlanganiswe nolwazi nethalente. Banana Na Na Umfanekiso Wokuhlobisa iyahlonishwa ngenxa yokucophelela kwayo futhi ihlelelwe ukulethela izinguquko zomgangatho wempilo ezisiza ukwenza umhlaba ube yindawo engcono.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: This controversial banana sculptural piece is a bold reinterpretation of a home decor object. Two key ideas shaped its design. Firstly the objective was to explore how much an object's form can be altered while still retaining its recognizability and secondly how to reimagine a banana in an upright standing position, defying its natural tendency to rest on its side.
Dimensions & Packaging: Width: 19 cm x Depth: 4.3 cm x Height: 8 cm
Tags: banana, contemporary, pop art, home decor
Production Technology: The product was digitally designed using 3d modelling software and the prototype was 3d printed. A four part plaster mold was made from the prototype using traditional mold-making techniques. Porcelain was picked as the material of choice for its complementary role in the object's final look.
Design Challenge: The object does not have a flat base, but instead the ridges coming in from its sides play the role of supporting feet. Getting the object to sit correctly without rocking on a tabletop and not be back or front heavy was the biggest challenge that had to be overcome. A few different variations were made before finalizing the design that fulfilled the above criteria.
Research: This object was an attempt of turning a portmanteau (merging of two words) into a physical object. The name of this object derives from the words banana and the chorus "na na na na na" sung in Opus' 1984 song "Live is Life". The objective was to make the banana look like it would turn from its' resting position (laying flat on its' side) to a standing position in order to dance. The banana edges have been changed from smooth continuous ones to wavy dashed ones in order to add a sense of rhythmical motion.
Inspiration: Among all fruits, the banana has one of the most instantly recognizable silhouettes. It has repeatedly surfaced in pop art, paintings, sculptures, photographs, and installations cementing its role not only as an iconic form but also, at times, as a playful or provocative cultural symbol.

The name of the object is derived from the combination of banana and the repetitive na na na na na chorus in Opus' 1984 song Live is Life.
Project Duration: This project started in August 2025 and was completed within one month in Istanbul, Turkey.
Operation Flow: The overall U-shaped form of the object gives it a sense of balance, while the dashed and twisted ridges add a sense of rhythm to its character.
Team Members: Designer: Konstantinos Paradeisopoulos
Designer: Zeynep Onder Paradeisopoulos
Image Credits: All photos belong to Kazoo Design Studio.