Press Release
The Laidback Lounge Chair by Uslu Design Studio Receives the Bronze A' Design Award in Furniture Design
Uslu Design Studio recognized 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/ A' Design Award & Competition has confirmed the Bronze A' Design Award in the Furniture Design category for The Laidback Lounge Chair by Uslu Design Studio. The recognition forms part of the 2025 - 2026 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 scored 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 The Laidback Lounge Chair
The Laidback is the observer within the Disco House universe. Never fully immersed, always slightly removed, it does not follow the atmosphere but quietly defines it. Defined by Nobilis velvet upholstery and stainless steel details, it leans into comfort while maintaining a composed presence. Rather than emphasizing function, it reflects a state of mind. Inspired by the liberated nightlife of the late 1970s and early 1980s, it captures a moment where music, rhythm and space dissolve into one another. It settles into the background, shaping space through restraint and subtle allure.
About Uslu Design Studio
Uslu Design Studio was founded in 2025 by Istanbul based interior architect and designer Alp Usluduran, as an extension of his architectural practice. After completing his studies in interior architecture at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University and design at Accademia di Brera in Milan, he established Uslu Architects in 2015, where he developed a design driven approach over more than a decade. This approach is defined by treating space as a complete system, where furniture and detail are not secondary elements but integral parts of the architectural composition.
Award Record
This recognition makes Uslu Design Studio 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. 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/183388
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/183388
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!183388
- Laureate Profile: https://dezigners.org/d/381635
- Further Information from the Laureate: https://usluarchitects.com
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
###
Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- The Laidback Lounge Chair
- Function
- Lounge Chair
- Category
- Furniture Design
- Discipline
- Industrial Design
- Industry
- Furniture & Home
- Colors
- Dark Slate Gray, Black, Dark Gray and Dark Slate Blue
- Images
- 5
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Uslu Design Studio
- Country
- Turkiye
- Recognition
- Bronze A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2025 - 2026
- Design ID
- #183388
Credits
- Team
- Alp Usluduran
- Image Credits
- Photographer Yesim Ozugeldi, The Laidback, 2026; Photographer Yesim Ozugeldi, Fashion Styling Merve Kusmenoglu,The Laidback, 2026
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- The Laidback is a lounge chair defined by its low, enveloping form and relaxed seating posture. Designed for extended comfort, it is paired with a matching ottoman and a dedicated side table positioned for effortless use. The seating ergonomics support a naturally reclined position without physical strain. High gloss lacquer, velvet and stainless steel create a refined contrast, offering a contemporary interpretation of comfort and spatial presence.
- Inspiration
- The inspiration for The Laidback comes from two references. Its formal language is shaped by the relationship between music and architecture, translated into soft, continuous geometries that express rhythm and flow in space. Its visual identity draws from the glamorous nightlife of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Rather than nostalgia, it reinterprets that era through a contemporary lens, reflecting a more restrained and introspective presence within social space.
- Research
- This project is based on a conceptual and experiential design research exploring the relationship between music, space and human behavior. Developed as part of the Disco House collection, it proposes a scenario for living where each object embodies a distinct character. The research builds on two core ideas: the invisible relationship between music and architecture, translated into spatial form, and the liberated, glamorous nightlife culture of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Through observational analysis and prototyping, the design investigates how atmosphere can be transformed into form, ergonomics and material expression.
- Challenge
- The main challenge was twofold. Conceptually, it involved translating abstract ideas such as rhythm, atmosphere and character into a coherent seating form, balancing expressive geometry with ergonomic comfort and structural integrity. Interpreting and reconstructing a cultural atmosphere that was not directly experienced, as a designer from a different generation, required an additional layer of research, imagination and reinterpretation. From a production perspective, the project faced significant constraints due to limited initial production volume, making it difficult to engage manufacturers.
- Realization and Technology
- The Laidback is produced through a hybrid process combining cnc fabrication and handcraft. The base is cnc-cut, while the side table leg is shaped with 5-axis cnc in alignment with the digital model. The backrest is formed using molded flexible plywood. The side table features fused glass with a color finish. cnc precision and molding techniques ensure consistency and efficiency in production. Velvet upholstery, high-gloss lacquer and stainless steel details position the piece within a premium segment, while material variations allow for adaptable cost strategies.
- Operation and Interaction
- The Laidback is designed for effortless use. Its low seating position naturally guides the body into a relaxed posture, supported by the ottoman. The side table is positioned within easy reach, allowing the user to place and access objects without interruption. The overall experience encourages stillness, comfort and a more passive interaction with the surrounding space.
- Project Duration and Location
- The project started in Istanbul in August 2025 and was completed in March 2026. It is presented as part of the Disco House collection during Milan Design Week 2026, with its official debut at Alcova Milano 2026 and SaloneSatellite 2026.
- Specifications
- Lounge chair with ottoman. The structure combines cnc-machined base elements, a 5-axis cnc-fabricated supporting leg and a molded flexible plywood backrest. Upholstery is in high-density foam and velvet fabric. Surface finishes include high-gloss lacquer, stainless steel details and fused glass elements. Approximate dimensions: chair 1000 w x 800 d x 700 h mm, ottoman 700 w x 520 d x 420 h mm
- Keywords
- Lounge Chair, Ergonomic Lounge Chair, Luxury Furniture, Statement Furniture, Collectible Furniture, Mid Century Furniture, Disco House, Uslu's Disco House, Uslu Design Studio, Uslu Architects
