Christine Xiang Receives the Silver A' Design Award for Cenear Bench in Furniture Design

The international grand jury of the 2023 - 2024 A' Design Award & Competition recognizes Christine Xiang for furniture design

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COMO, Italy, February 20, 2024 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has confirmed the Silver A' Design Award in the Furniture Design category for Cenear Bench by Christine Xiang, designed for Cenire. The award was conferred within the 2023 - 2024 A' Design Award & Competition and was reached through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who evaluated anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.

What the Silver A' Design Award Means

The Silver A' Design Award celebrates top-tier designs that embody excellence and innovation. This award acknowledges creations that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional, reflecting the designer's deep understanding and skill. Silver A' Design Award recipients are recognized for their contribution to raising industry standards and advancing the practice of design. Their work often incorporates original innovations and elicits a strong emotional response, making a notable impact on the improvement of everyday life.

Regarding Cenear Bench

The Cenear Bench draws inspiration from the graceful curves and rich heritage of tea gardens, seamlessly merging contemporary Chinese furniture elements with an homage to historical culture. Crafted to encourage open communication, it boasts a soft cushion seat affixed to a wooden frame, accompanied by two differently colored shaped cushions for adaptable comfort. The bench caters to the modern user's penchant for personalized seating configurations, featuring curved sections and supportive backrests that encourage relaxed and engaging conversations.

Award Record

This recognition makes Christine Xiang a winner of 1 A' Design Award.

About the A' Furniture Design Award

The A' Furniture Design Award is an international furniture competition recognizing good furniture designs by best furniture designers worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to furniture designers, product designers, industrial design studios and furniture brands from all countries. Typical entries include chairs, tables, sofas, beds, cabinets and shelves. The awarded furniture designs are published at https://dezigners.org/design-category/furniture

About A' Design Award & Competition

Organized annually since 2008, A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The philanthropic mission of the A' Design Award is to advance society through good design, by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Nominations are peer reviewed and evaluated anonymously by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. Eligible laureates receive the A' Design Prize, which includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, uploading a work and receiving a preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. More information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com

Press Resources

Winner Page: https://dezigners.org/158066
A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/158066
Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!158066
Laureate Profile: https://dezigners.org/d/352809

Media Contact

Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953

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Fact Sheet

The Work

Project: Cenear Bench
Function: Bench
Category: Furniture Design
Discipline: Industrial Design
Industry: Furniture & Home
Colors: Light Gray, Silver, Dark Slate Gray, Black and Dim Gray
Images: 5
Client: Cenire

The Recognition

Laureate: Christine Xiang
Country: United States of America
Recognition: Silver A' Design Award
Edition: 2023 - 2024
Design ID: #158066

Credits

Image Credits: All Image: Photographer Yugong Luo, 2018. All Image: Art Direct Christine Xiang, 2018.

Design Details

Unique Properties: The Cenear Bench has been designed to encourage conversation among users. Its defining feature is the implementation of two differently shaped cushions attached to the wooden frame, providing options for individualized seating preferences. This interactive design adds functionality and playfulness to the bench, distinguishing it from other seating options. Moreover, this bench is ideal for both indoor and outdoor settings, making it versatile across various environments.
Inspiration: The tea garden, with its curves and evocative history, served as the initial inspiration for the Cenear Bench. The goal was to blend modern Chinese furniture concepts with a tribute to historical Chinese culture. This inspired the incorporation of ancient tea garden curvature into the design of the back support. This created a unique, modern bench that also evokes the past.
Research: After conducting a series of surveys, in-depth interviews, and design research, alongside 1-to-1 scale mockups, it became evident that contemporary users have distinct preferences for seating arrangements tailored to different activities. In response, the Cenear Bench was developed to facilitate casual conversation while offering a distinctive and inviting user experience. With its curved seating sections and supportive backrest, it encourages users to engage comfortably in conversation. This research-driven approach sets the Cenear Bench apart from others.
Challenge: In crafting the Cenear Bench, designers faced the challenge of harmonizing comfort with cushions of various shapes. They undertook surveys and interviews with users to discern their requirements, leading to the incorporation of two differently colored shaped cushions affixed to the black walnut wood frame. The bench's elegant, contemporary design appeals to a wide range of users, providing stability, harmony, and an interactive feature that can enhance the comfort of all users.
Realization and Technology: The final prototype was made of black walnut. In addition to using a CNC machine to shape the curvature, the wood frame was further hand-sanded for a smooth texture. The upholstery utilized foam cushions sewn with Microsuede fabric, providing a nice contrast.
Operation and Interaction: The Cenear Bench is designed to create a welcoming space for two people to openly communicate. The soft cushion seat is attached to the wooden bench. Two differently colored shaped cushions allow users to sit in various postures and still feel comfortable. This innovative sectional seating transforms the bench into a relaxed and open conversation seating experience. The interaction between the user and the bench creates a more interactive and warm atmosphere with the curvature of the seating.
Project Duration and Location: The project began in September 2018 in Pasadena, California, and was exhibited at ICFF in May 2019. The Cenear Bench, in its current form, has undergone several design changes since 2018 and was finalized in 2023.
Specifications: 203cm Width x 86cm Depth x 84cm Height
Keywords: Cenear, Bench, Furniture, Wood, Indoor Furniture, Seating, Design Concept, Outdoor Furniture