Press Release
U1 Office Chair by Kano Group Co.,Ltd Is Granted the Silver A' Design Award in Office Furniture Design
Kano Group Co.,Ltd acknowledged for office furniture design by the international grand jury of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 15, 2026 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has confirmed the Silver A' Design Award in the Office Furniture Design category for U1 Office Chair by Kano Group Co.,Ltd. The result belongs to 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 evaluated anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
The Silver A' Design Award Explained
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.
About U1 Office Chair
U1 is an ergonomic office chair designed for long hours of work. The backrest has a fluid S shape inspired by winding rivers and wind carved canyons. The frame is produced by injection molding for structural strength, fatigue resistance and stability, and is offered in black and white with a textured surface. The armrests are finished with baked paint. A two dimensional headrest and a floating lumbar cushion support the head, neck and lower back. The seat and lumbar cushion adjust in height, and three interchangeable armrest styles suit different tasks and body types.
About Kano Group Co.,Ltd
Established in 2013, Kano specializes in the R&D, manufacturing, sales, and service of office furniture, providing professional and comprehensive solutions for office spaces. By integrating top-tier local designers with European design resources, the company's products have garnered prestigious domestic and international awards. Supported by the smart factory and intelligent production systems, all products comply with ENF environmental standards and have accumulated numerous patents.
Award Record
This recognition makes Kano Group Co.,Ltd a winner of 1 A' Design Award.
About the A' Office Furniture Design Award
The A' Office Furniture Design Award is an international furniture design competition recognizing good office furniture by best designers and brands worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to office furniture designers, industrial design studios, office furniture brands and office furniture manufacturers from all countries. Typical entries include desks, chairs, file cabinets, conference tables, cubicles and workstations. The awarded office furniture designs are published at https://dezigners.org/design-category/office-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/181507
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/181507
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!181507
- Laureate Profile: https://dezigners.org/d/380351
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
- U1 Office Chair
- Function
- Chair
- Category
- Office Furniture Design
- Discipline
- Industrial Design
- Industry
- Furniture & Home and Business
- Colors
- Dark Gray, Silver, Gray, Gainsboro and Dim Gray
- Images
- 5
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Kano Group Co.,Ltd
- Country
- China
- Recognition
- Silver A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2025 - 2026
- Design ID
- #181507
Credits
- Team
- Biejun Li, Xiubo Chen, Wangjian Su, Bin Zhu and Chaoyue Chen
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- U1 offers comprehensive health support. At its core is a dynamic contouring system that perfectly fits the human body to alleviate pressure during prolonged sitting. The seat optimizes pressure distribution and improves breathability. The headrest supports multidimensional adjustment, complemented by replaceable armrests, accommodating users of various body types. The chair marries modern aesthetics with practical functionality, enhancing both comfort and productivity during long hours of work.
- Inspiration
- U1 draws inspiration from the winding rivers and wind carved canyons found in nature. The fluid S shaped backrest echoes the rhythm of winding rivers, lending the product a graceful and cohesive visual dynamism. Simultaneously, the sculptural quality of wind carved landscapes is translated into the intricately carved surfaces of the chair. Together, these features create a unique form that combines artistic tension with the vitality of nature.
- Research
- This ergonomic chair aims to achieve multi scenario adaptability. It innovatively incorporates three interchangeable armrest styles: the standard height T shaped armrests, the fixed armrests, and the sturdy loop style armrests. This modular approach effortlessly tackles diverse scenarios such as focused work, intensive study, and relaxed leisure. As a result, the chair meets the demands of all scenarios, enhancing both user experience and spatial efficiency.
- Challenge
- The challenge was integrating natural elements into the chair without compromising functionality. Inspired by the fluid S shaped curves of wind carved canyons, U1 shapes its silver frame into a winding river, seamlessly connecting the backrest and armrests. This evokes the symbolic energy loop of a Mobius strip and fulfills practical needs. The cyan lumbar cushion resembles a glacial pool nestled among gray white rocks, infusing the rational space with the dynamism and serenity of water.
- Realization and Technology
- The armrests are finished with baked paint, achieving a refined luster and an upscale aesthetic. The backrest frame provides two color options including black and white, with a textured surface improving both visual depth and tactile sophistication. The entire frame, made using injection molding technology, boasts outstanding structural strength, excellent fatigue resistance, and high temperature tolerance to ensure safety and stability for long term use.
- Operation and Interaction
- The chair features a reclining backrest, while its lumbar cushion and seat allow height adjustment, delivering consistently ergonomic and comfortable support tailored to various body types and sitting positions. A 2D headrest and a floating lumbar cushion provide targeted support for the head, neck, and lower back, further enhancing comfort during prolonged use. Three interchangeable armrest styles are available, catering to both individual aesthetic needs and diverse scenarios.
- Project Duration and Location
- The project started in Zhejiang in June 2025. The product is expected to be showcased at CIFF Guangzhou in March 2026, and will be officially launched on the market in May 2026.
- Keywords
- Ergonomic Chair, Natural Elements, Mobius Strip, Aesthetics of Flowing, Premium Metallic Paint
