Folding 邊几 by Max Niemiec is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award 鐵獎 in 傢俱設計 Competition Category.

鐵傢俱· 2026

Folding 邊几

by Max Niemiec

Client: Paul Maxwell

A' Design Award 鐵獎 Winner in 傢俱 Category

5,047

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #180622

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Folding 邊几

Folding係一張邊几，同時亦係一件可以由四面八方欣賞嘅幾何雕塑。呢張枱由一塊完整嘅層壓實木板製成，切割成四件之後，再沿住銳角同鈍角重新接合，令整體造型好似摺疊而成咁。長長嘅錐形倒角令多面體嘅邊緣更加精緻。組裝時採用木榫接合、木工夾具同特製嘅夾緊方法。實木板摺疊咗三次，四邊各自呈現唔同嘅視覺效果。每個尺寸均為483毫米。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 鐵獎

Folding 邊几是 A' Design Award 鐵獎得主，這是授予滿足人們對設計精良的創作所期待的專業與工業要求的優良設計的聲望認可。鐵獎得主展現出其創作者的高超技藝、高度專業化、專家級的理解力和創造能力。預計Folding 邊几將成為一件備受推崇、令人欽佩且被珍愛的創作，既實用又創新。這件贏得 A' Design Award 鐵獎的設計整合了行業最佳實踐，並擁有與專業知識和才華相結合的稱職技術特性。Folding 邊几因其嚴謹而受到尊重，旨在提供有助於讓世界變得更美好的生活品質改善。

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