Press Release
Chong Zhi Yu Is Honored with the Bronze A' Design Award for On Belay Lounge Chair in Furniture Design
Chong Zhi Yu acknowledged for furniture design by the international grand jury of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 25, 2026 /DesignNewswire/ On Belay Lounge Chair by Chong Zhi Yu, designed for Nanyang Academy of Fine Arrts, has been granted the Bronze A' Design Award in the Furniture Design category, A' Design Award & Competition has announced. The recognition forms part of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition and was decided through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who assessed anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
What the Bronze A' Design Award Means
The Bronze A' Design Award is given to outstanding designs that showcase a high degree of creativity and practicality. It recognizes the dedication and skill of designers who produce work that stands out for its thoughtful development and innovative use of materials and technology. These designs are acknowledged for their professional execution and potential to influence industry standards positively. Winning this award highlights the designer's ability to blend form and function effectively, offering solutions that enhance people's lives and wellbeing.
More About On Belay Lounge Chair
On Belay is a lounge chair that reuses retired climbing ropes. Ropes that are no longer suitable for climbing keep their strength and flexibility, so they are woven into the seat and the backrest. The woven surface is soft and flexible, and it spreads weight evenly to give support without rigid parts. The frame is made of Kapur wood with lap and bridle joints reinforced by dual dowels at the corners. Traditional weaving methods are combined with climbing knots to bind the ropes to the frame. The chair measures 600 by 850 by 650 millimetres.
Award Record
Chong Zhi Yu is a winner of 1 A' Design Award, including this recognition.
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. The competition 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. Entries typically include chairs, tables, sofas, beds, cabinets and shelves. Awarded furniture designs are published at https://dezigners.org/design-category/furniture
About A' Design Award & Competition
A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade organized annually since 2008. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The A' Design Award has a philanthropic mission 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. Entries are peer reviewed and anonymously evaluated 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. The A' Design Prize granted to eligible laureates 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, the upload of a work and the 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. Further information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://dezigners.org/178950
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/178950
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!178950
- Laureate Profile: https://dezigners.org/d/375428
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
- On Belay Lounge Chair
- Function
- Lounge Chair
- Category
- Furniture Design
- Discipline
- Industrial Design
- Industry
- Furniture & Home
- Colors
- Black, Dark Slate Gray, Dark Gray, Saddle Brown and Rosy Brown
- Images
- 5
- Client
- Nanyang Academy of Fine Arrts
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Chong Zhi Yu
- Country
- Singapore
- Recognition
- Bronze A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2025 - 2026
- Design ID
- #178950
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- On Belay ingeniously repurposes discarded climbing ropes as integral structural and tactile elements of a lounge chair. Though no longer fit for safety-critical use after extended wear or falls, these ropes retain strength and flexibility ideal for furniture applications. Woven meticulously into the seat and backrest, the design redefines lifesaving equipment into a durable, sustainable, and comfortable seating experience that bridges heritage craft with modern ecological responsibility.
- Inspiration
- Inspired by the themes of safety, trust, and connection inherent in rock climbing culture, On Belay transforms retired climbing ropes symbols of protection and resilience into core materials for furniture. These ropes embody stories of endurance and rebirth, and through creative upcycling, the design offers a poetic metaphor for rest and renewal, highlighting sustainable innovation intertwined with emotional narratives.
- Research
- I focused on upcycled materials and chose climbing ropes for this project. I researched various weaving techniques and climbing knotting methods, alongside exploring line art for visual inspiration. During mock-up stages, I drilled multiple holes to find optimal positions and consulted with my mentor to determine the best structure and joinery for the chair frame. I tested different diameters of climbing ropes and ultimately selected 5mm support rope for its balance of aesthetics and comfort. I am very satisfied with the final product. This design taught me that upcycling can be both practical and visually appealing.
- Challenge
- The hardest part of this project was that it was our first, so many aspects were unfamiliar, especially weaving and knotting techniques. These skills required extensive practice and patience to master. Additionally, limited information and guidance made the learning curve steep. Overcoming these challenges deepened my understanding of material manipulation and craftsmanship, which was crucial for realizing the design successfully.
- Realization and Technology
- The seating structure combines traditional weaving techniques learned in Thailand with climbing rope knotting methods to bind reclaimed ropes securely onto a Kapur wood frame. The chair’s frame uses time-honored joinery methods including lap and bridle joints reinforced with dual dowels at frame corners to ensure strength and durability.
- Operation and Interaction
- The woven climbing rope seat provides a soft, flexible surface that naturally conforms to the human body, evenly distributing weight to deliver ergonomic support without rigid components. Its minimalist yet stable construction fosters a sense of security and calm, evoking the trust foundational to climbing safety. This tactile interaction invites relaxation and mindfulness, transforming the chair into a restorative haven for body and mind.
- Project Duration and Location
- This Project started in August 2025 in Singapore NAFA and finished in NAFA's workshop.
- Specifications
- Width 600 mm x Depth 850 mm x Height 650 mm
- Keywords
- Sustainable , Upcycled materials, Climbing rope, Lounge chair, Tension weaving, Recycled furniture, Knotting techniques, Outdoor , Ergonomic seating, Conceptual furniture
