Bronze Furniture · 2013

Cocktail Table

by Mario J Lotti

Bronze A' Design Award 2013 in Furniture
CLIENT: Mario J Lotti Architecture, PC
Estimated Number of Design Views: 19,626
Verification code 6E82AFB76A · Verify this award

View at A' Design Award Press Release

Colors

About Cocktail Table

The design is a black cocktail table with interesting shadows that play off the black of the table. It is a timeless design that will fit with many styles. Artifacts can be displayed on the different levels below to change the appearance of the table while also keeping the table top clear. The table is a KD cash and carry design: purchase, bring home, and easily assembled by anyone. The design is beautiful, interesting to look at, but not obtrusive. Cocktail tables are normally in the center of activity, but should not become the center of attention - this table accomplishes just that

About the Bronze A' Design Award

Cocktail Table is a Bronze A' Design Award winner, a highly prestigious recognition granted to outstanding designs distinguished by creativity, ingenuity, and astuteness. Bronze winners are amply skillful and strikingly creative artifacts that authenticate the vast experience, imagination, and resourcefulness of their designers. Cocktail Table is expected to be a highly regarded, admired, and cherished object that is notably professional and innovative. This Bronze A' Design Award-winning design incorporates best practices in art, science, design, and technology, and is excellent for its attention to detail. Cocktail Table splendidly satisfies needs, touches desires, charms feelings, and appeals to curiosity.

Press Kit

Unique Properties: The design is a geometric design of concentric squares, generally, a 1m square with a 0.6m hole on top of a 0.6m square with a 0.3m hole on top of a 0.3m square. - the black color of the table material and the shadows create interesting effects. The finish is a black lacquer finish that reads as a black with "depth". Items or artifacts can be display on the different levels below the table top to change the appearance of the table while also keeping the table top clear.
Dimensions & Packaging: The table design is US dimensions - in metric units, that is 1 meter X 1 meter square and 0.5 meter high, 1/2 the horizontal table dimension. The design is concentric squares, reducing by 0.3 meters each level: 1m with a 0.6m hole over a 0.6m square with a 0.3m hole over a 0.3m square. The package is +/- 1.01m X 1.01m X 0.08m thick with a carry handle. The packaging is recycled and/or new cardboard with cardboard filler pieces. A simple tool is provided for assembling and dis-assembling the table.
Tags: Table, Cocktail Table, Occasional Table, Coffee Table, Tavolino, Table Basse, Meso De Centro
Production Technology: The table is made from plywood with a tempered glass top that is set flush with the table top. The legs meet the corners of the horizontal pieces such that the chamfer on the horizontal pieces match the width of the legs. There are special spring loaded fasteners that hold it together, which are the dowel like items in the images. Due to limitations on dimensional tolerances, the item is better suited for mass production in a factory.
Mass production, Plywood, Knock down furniture, Black, glass
Design Challenge: The design process applied here has more to do with an experiment to prove a theory: The process of design may be accelerated by stripping it down to the fundamental components and working through them with intent, focusing on the design of the whole object at one time, and, if a problem is approached by considering the whole rather than considering each part, a coherent, harmonious and complete result may be achieved.
Research: The design process was an experiment in applying some design process theories I have. Basically, ways of using my mind to produce designs that are complete and appear as a unified complete design/ object, rather than appearing as an assemblage of parts. The design process may be used by anyone.
Inspiration: I wanted to design the "ultimate" cocktail table. Something that was beautiful to look at without becoming the center of attention of the room, a piece that can work with a variety of interior styles and a timeless design. The result is this table, which is a play of light, dark, shade and shadow.
Project Duration: The design took a couple of months to develop and apply to a working drawing. Designed in NYC, USA.
Operation Flow: The table is a "knock down" piece of furniture. The table comes in a box flat packed and is cash and carry - It is easy assembly for anyone with the special "spring loaded fasteners" (not detailed here).