Folding Itafula Eliseceleni by Max Niemiec is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Umklomelo Wensimbi we-A' Design Award in Ukudizayina Ifenisha Competition Category.
InsimbiIfenisha· 2026
Folding Itafula Eliseceleni
by Max Niemiec
Client: Paul Maxwell
Umklomelo Wensimbi we-A' Design Award Winner in Ifenisha Category
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- Verified Award Winner
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The Design
About Folding Itafula Eliseceleni
I-Folding yitafula eliseceleni eliphinde libe yisithombe esiqoshiwe sejometri okumele sibukwe nhlangothi zonke. Leli tafula lenziwe ngocezu olulodwa lokhuni oluqinile olunamathiselwe ndawonye, olusikwe lwaba yizingcezu ezine lwase luhlanganiswa futhi ngama-engele amancane namakhulu, ukuze isimo salo sibonakale sengathi sigoqiwe. Imiphetho ende ecijile ehleliwe yenza imiphetho enezinhlangothi ibe ntofontofo. Ukuhlanganiswa kusetshenziswa izikhonkwane zokhuni, amathuluzi okusiza ekubazeni kanye nezindlela ezikhethekile zokubambisa. Ucezu lokhuni lugoqwe kathathu, futhi uhlangothi ngalunye kwezine lubonisa isimo esehlukile. Isilinganiso ngasinye singamamilimitha angu-483.
The Recognition
About the Umklomelo Wensimbi we-A' Design Award
Folding Itafula Eliseceleni 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. Folding Itafula Eliseceleni 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. Folding Itafula Eliseceleni 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 side table design is a geometric sculpture meant to be enjoyed from all sides. It is made from one laminated slab, cut and joined back together on acute and obtuse angles, to give the impression that it has been folded into a table-like form.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Width 483 mm x Depth 483 mm x Height 483 mm
- Tags
- folding, table, geometric, sculptural, side table, origami, taper, facet
- Production Technology
- The first step in the process is to make a laminated hardwood slab. Then the slab is cut into four pieces. The use of woodworking jigs and fixtures is necessary to cut the unusual angles and tapered chamfers. Dowel-type joinery and special clamping methods are used for the final assembly
- Design Challenge
- In minimalist designs a recurring challenge is finding the sweet spot between simplicity and complexity. Based on the initial design concept it was clear that the base and top of the table needed to be parallel planes. Two folds would have been the minimum to accomplish this but would have also been too simple to be interesting. Four folds would have been too complex and less structurally sound. The conclusion that this design required the slab to be folded three times provided the constraints and scope for the remainder of the design work.
- Research
- For this design the portion of the effort that was mathematical was far grater than in most other design projects. Although at first sight the folding table may appear elegantly simple, transforming this concept into reality was a highly complex trigonometric challenge. Each adjustment to the aesthetics required a long series of recalculations
- Inspiration
- The objective in this design was to create something that is both simple and radically new. The design process began with experiments folding a rectangular strip of paper. After transitioning from working with the flat plane of the paper to the thick wooden slab, the incorporation of the long tapered chamfers became aesthetically necessary - one of the most delightful elements of the design.
- Project Duration
- February 2025 - September 2025
- Operation Flow
- The folding table is best suited for use as a side table in an open space that provides as many unobstructed views as possible. Since it appears different from each of it's four sides, the front of the table depends on the preference of the viewer.
- Patents
- Application No. 30/046,172
Filed: February 3, 2026 - Team Members
- Max Niemiec
- Image Credits
- Brian Shumway
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