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Press Release

DesignNewswire · COMO, Italy ·

Minimal Techno Arm Chair by Sebastiaan Van Beest Wins the Golden A' Design Award in Furniture Design

Sebastiaan Van Beest acknowledged for furniture design by the international grand jury of the 2020 - 2021 A' Design Award & Competition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COMO, Italy, April 23, 2021 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has confirmed the Golden A' Design Award in the Furniture Design category for Minimal Techno Arm Chair by Sebastiaan Van Beest, designed for Ooak designs. The award was conferred within the 2020 - 2021 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 assessed anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.

About the Golden A' Design Award

The Gold A' Design Award is granted to designs that demonstrate a high level of innovation and a significant impact on their intended audience. Recognized as a major achievement by the A' Design Awards, these designs are characterized by their visionary approach and the exceptional skill of their creators. Winners of the Gold A' Design Award are noted for their ability to push the envelope in art, science, design, and technology, delivering solutions that not only meet but exceed expectations. These designs serve as benchmarks for excellence, encouraging further innovation and inspiring future generations of designers.

Regarding Minimal Techno Arm Chair

Minimal Techno is a prototype armchair made from recycled solid steel and repurposed bamboo hardwood flooring. The frame has a matte black coating, and brushed brass screws hold the bamboo slats in place. The thin steel and bamboo give the seat flexibility, so the chair stays comfortable during long periods of sitting. The structure is strong and has been tested to hold weights above 250 pounds. Japanese minimalism and the use of negative space guided the form. Only three materials are used, which keeps the armchair simple to reproduce.

About Sebastiaan Van Beest

Born and raised in the Netherlands, Sebastiaan always had a love for sound and design. Winning competitions at a young age for things such as the new Euro money at the age of 14. He spent most of his youth as a graffiti artist running from the authorities. At the age 18 he started to transfer his skills to canvas. Mostly for himself and friends. He never pursued and exhibition nor did he think he was ready, yet. At the age of 20, he moved to Vancouver, Canada, where he had to work for a living. He started producing electronic music as a hobby and performing around the world. He has had many releases on different iconic record labels over the years.

Award Record

Sebastiaan Van Beest 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. 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

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
Minimal Techno Arm Chair
Function
Arm Chair
Category
Furniture Design
Discipline
Industrial Design
Industry
Furniture & Home
Colors
Gainsboro, Dim Gray, Silver, Dark Gray and Gray
Images
5
Client
Ooak designs

The Recognition

Laureate
Sebastiaan Van Beest
Country
Canada
Recognition
Golden A' Design Award
Edition
2020 - 2021
Design ID
#124252

Design Details

Unique Properties
This is a prototype arm chair which is constructed from recycled solid steel and repurposed bamboo hardwood flooring. It has a matte black coating with brushed brass screws to hold the bamboo slats in place. The design is meant to feel delicate, yet strong and robust. Because of the thin steel and bamboo, this design has amazing flexibility and is quite comfortable to sit in for long periods of time.
Inspiration
Japanese minimalism and the use of negative space are the main inspirations for this project.
Challenge
The biggest problem with the design of this arm chair, was to find a way to have a comfortable and delicate, yet strong arm chair while using the least amount of materials. Thus using solid steel and hard wood was the way to go to achieve the desired effect. Light, flexible, sleek and strong.
Realization and Technology
This is the first arm chair I have brought to fruition. I wanted it to make a statement piece and be sustainable. all of the materials except the screws are from recycled material. I am still sourcing recycled brass to make this a fully recycled product. The chair consists of only three materials, which makes it easy to reproduce. I am looking into ways to make this product more compact for shipping purposes when it goes to production.
Operation and Interaction
This design was made with the use of negative space being in the forefront. It is designed to feel as though not much space is being consumed, yet has a large presence. the construction is very strong and can hold weights that exceed 250lbs as tested.
Project Duration and Location
This project was conceived in Vancouver, Canada on march 26 2021 and completed on march 30TH 2021
Keywords
Chair, Modern, Minimalism, Negative space, Reclaimed, upcycled

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