AtMa's "act of rebellion" seating collection wins Dezeen Awards 2025 design project of the year

J39.5 won the Dezeen Awards 2025 design project of the year, following the announcement of all 14 design category winners at the Dezeen Awards 2025 party in London.

The 14 winners awarded in Dezeen's annual awards programme include designs by Flokk, Kvadrat, Paul Crofts Studio and Terzofoco.

J39.5 named design project of the year
J39.5 by AtMa won the prestigious design project of the year award and was also named collectible design of the year.

According to the design master jury, J39.5 represents "an act of rebellion against the constant churn of newness in our industry; a sort of anti-design statement."

"This body of work conveys the handwriting of the maker and these low-fi creations celebrate the individual DIY path that the creator pursued," they said.

"Each object in this body of work stretches expected seating typologies away from the original chair from which they are constructed."

J39.5 was up against designs that included a table lamp that comes in an A4-size envelope, ceramic basins that can double as barbecues and a bike helmet that flattens to become thinner
than a laptop.

Read more about all the winning design projects below:

Design project of the year and collectible design project of the year: J39.5 by AtMa

Japanese studio AtMa salvaged parts of Danish designer Børge Mogensen's classic J39 chair over several years, reassembling parts in unconventional compositions to innovatively repurpose the discarded materials.

"This collection of one-off seats breathes new life into otherwise discarded and forgotten chairs. Each creation celebrates the 'scars' of their previous life,” commented the judges.

"The results are timeless in their appeal. We found it satisfying that new value was created without using new materials and there is a pleasing warmth of craft in the final outcomes."

Read more about J39.5 by AtMa ›

Furniture design of the year: Crayon Pine by Siri Svedborg and Adrian Bursell
A series of timber furniture and lighting by Swedish designers Siri Svedborg and Adrian Bursel won furniture design of the year.

The handcrafted pine objects, including a bench, a stool and a lamp, are directly adorned with repetitive wax crayon strokes which form dynamic patterns.

"We were attracted to this playful, joyful and somewhat whimsical collection that was achieved with the simple gesture of crayon marks," said the design master jury.

"The forms, reminiscent of earlier Sottsass designs, revisit some timeless themes in furniture design revived by this young independent studio."

Read more about Crayon Pine by Siri Svedborg and Adrian Bursell ›

Seating design of the year: Knit One by Paul Crofts Studio for Isomi
A sofa made from 3D-knitted fabric covers stretched over metal frames won the seating design of the year.

Paul Crofts and Isomi designed a modular sofa, which uses 100 per cent recycled and recyclable polyester, for commercial contract environments.

"This chair design not only functions effectively, but, crucially, it is free from toxic and polluting petrochemical-derived foams," noted the jury.

"The design is simple in its material use and easily repairable. It sends a strong message to the industry that the construction of upholstered furniture needs a serious rethink."

Read more about Knit One by Paul Crofts Studio for Isomi ›

Bespoke design of the year: Sculptural Seats on Strand by LDA Design and
Millimetre
LDA Design and Millimetre won bespoke design of the year for their undulating benches installed as part of a wider pedestrianisation project on the Strand in central London.

Weaving through once congested streets, this sculptural seating made from durable Accoya timber provides space for 700 people to pause and rest.

The judges said, "This is a great solution to a public space which was no doubt complicated due to a rigid brief and numerous stakeholders."

"The resulting design redefines the space with a new purpose. The use of wood adds a softness and tactility to what could have been a hostile urban environment."

Read more about Sculptural Seats on Strand by LDA Design and Millimetre ›

Lighting design of the year: Tsubomi by Kazuhiro Yamanaka
A table lamp that comes in an A4-size envelope and inflates into a self-supporting light shaped reminiscent of conventional lamps, won the lighting design of the year.

"This design challenges the idea that a perfect shape is always the most beautiful. This cute and somewhat playful and naive lamp has a sort of crumpled elegance that gives it its own personality," said the master jury.

They added, "It's affordable and non-precious, which is unusual in lighting design today."

Read more about Tsubomi by Kazuhiro Yamanaka ›

Architectural lighting design of the year: Hermès' Collections at Milan Design
Week 2025 by L'Observatoire International and Studio CMP
Hermès's installation for Milan Design Week won the architectural lighting design of the year.

Alcoves and recesses house objects in the homeware collection, which are warmly lit by
L'Observatoire International and Studio CMP to illuminate the vibrant palette of the collection
against an otherwise white space.

The judges said, "the designer of this exhibition has created an ethereal glow in the space by
painting with colour and reflected light."
"The effect helped to give warmth to an otherwise clinical scenography, and the result has been executed to a high quality level."

Read more about Hermès' Collections at Milan Design Week 2025 by L'Observatoire
International and Studio CMP ›

Surface design of the year: Other Matter Architectural Surfaces by Other Matter
Melbourne-based research and design studio Other Matter won surface design of the year for its eponymous algae-derived polymers, created as alternatives to petrochemical plastics.

Used as a core element in the interior design for skincare brand Aesop's first store in Hainan
Island, China, judges described its application as “warm, earthy and perfect for the site."

"This recently developed material not only looks great but has a strong place in the market as an
alternative to conventional adhesive films.

"Not only can this film be composted, but it works effectively as a wholesale replacement to
mainstream petrochemical-derived vinyl."

Read more about Other Matter Architectural Surfaces by Other Matter ›

Textile design of the year: Plissade by Luis Marie
An adhesive-free acoustic room divider made entirely from textiles won textile design of the
year.

Dutch design studio Luis Marie used a textile pleating technique to manipulate recycled
materials in order to create this foldable, modular and lightweight partition.

The master jury said, "we were intrigued by the technique used to create this self-supporting yet
flexible textile screen. The resulting design is strikingly graphic and packed with colour and
would work well in many modern spaces."

Read more about Plissade by Luis Marie ›

Workplace design of the year: Offecct Circulus by Mario Ferrarini Studio for Flokk
A characterful and distinct modular public seating system designed by Italian designer Mario Ferrarini for Flokk won workplace design of the year.

"This contract seating system cleverly brings courageous changes to workplace furniture. Not only is the design hardwearing, but should it get damaged, it is easily repairable due to its
efficient use of a few components," said the jury.

The judges added, "the designer has also reduced the material bulk and visual weight from the construction, breathing a new aesthetic language into workplace design."

Read more about Of ecct Circulus by Mario Ferrarini Studio for Flokk ›

Product design (consumer design) of the year: Volvo EX90 by Volvo Cars
Car company Volvo's first fully electric SUV, packed with innovative safety features, has won
product design (consumer design) of the year.

"A great complexity of technologies has gone into this vehicle, seamlessly integrating
sophisticated sensors which advocate for a safer driving environment," said the master jury.

"The concentration of intelligence and innovation is off the charts," they praised.

Read more about Volvo EX90 by Volvo Cars ›

Product design (health, wellbeing and wearables) of the year: Ventete aH-1 bike
helmet by Ventete
London-based design brand Ventete's blow-up cycling helmet that uses air instead of foam to
absorb impact yet easily fits into a bag when deflated, won product design (health, wellbeing and wearables) of the year.

The master jury commended the "futuristic and cool" aesthetic of the helmet.

They continued, "the construction of this helmet proposes something totally new in a product
category that is hard to disrupt. It replaces rigid foam with air, and when deflated, it reduces to
only take up a small amount of space in a bag or suitcase."

Read more about Ventete aH-1 bike helmet by Ventete ›

Product design (bathroom): Lune Up by Emanuel Gargano for Terzofoco
Emanuel Gargano's hand-thrown ceramic pedestals for Terzofoco won product design
(bathroom) of the year.

Designed as a versatile system that supports modular elements such as washbasins, planters and barbecues, Lune Up can be suited to a variety of uses.

"This is a beautifully-made collection that demonstrates a pleasing continuity between indoo and outdoor use," said the design master jury.

"The materials used add texture to the clean lines of the collection."

Read more about Lune Up by Emanuel Gargano for Terzofoco ›

Graphic design of the year: Irreversible Scale by Rikako Nagashima (village®) for Kvadrat
A series of rolled calendars that illustrate the urgency of the climate crisis, designed by graphic designer Rikako Nagashima for Kvadrat, won graphic design of the year.

The design master jury praised the “calm and confident" visual language of this project.

They continued, "the client's sustainability targets are committed in this analogue graphic
design project. The fact that the information is communicated in a tangible print format, rather
than digital, holds the client's targets to account and evolves to reveal their achievements over a
finite period of time."

Read more about Irreversible Scale by Rikako Nagashima (village®) for Kvadrat ›

Installation design of the year: Down in the Clouds by Practice on Earth and Increments Studio
Located in rural China, three pavilions by Practice on Earth and Increments Studio won
installation design of the year.

White inflatables are supported by repurposed shipping containers to create a cafe, reading
room and cinema amongst the surrounding rice fields.

"The collection of structures is beautiful, poetic and stands out in this rural setting. We love the
juxtaposition between hard and soft structures, the industrial and the organic. The project offers
simple and fun gestures to transform the landscape," said the jury.

Read more about Down in the Clouds by Practice on Earth and Increments Studio ›