AtMa’s seating collection wins Dezeen Awards 2025 design project of the year

J39.5 has won 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 and Paul Crofts Studio.

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

J39.5 by AtMa won Dezeen Awards 2025 design project 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:

Photo by Shunsuke Watanabe

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,” commented the judges. “Each creation celebrates the ‘scars’ of their previous life.”

“The results are timeless in their appeal,” they continued. “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 ›

Photo by Siri Svedborg

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 Bursell 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.”

Photo by Paul Crofts Studio

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 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.”

Photo by Matteo Lavazza Seranto

Highly commended seating design of the year: Ax by Zilio A&C

A stackable ash plywood stool designed to evoke the moment when a log is axed and splits in two was highly commended in the seating design category.

“We were drawn to the visual simplicity of this small and joyful stool,” said the jury. “It has a satisfying and understandable construction – an altogether very liveable product!”

Read more about Ax by Zilio A&C ›

Photo by Glasshopper

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.

“This a great solution to a public space which was no doubt complicated due to a rigid brief and numerous stakeholders,” said the judges.

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

Photo by Kazuhiro Yamanaka

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 lighting design of the year.

“This design challenges if 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.

“It’s affordable and non-precious, which is unusual in lighting design today.”

Photo by Maxime Verret/Hermès

Architectural lighting design of the year: Hermès’ Collections at Milan Design Week 2025 by L’Observatoire International and Studio CMP

A Hermès installation for Milan design week won 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 designer of this exhibition has created an ethereal glow in the space by painting with colour and reflected light,” said the judges.

“The effect helped to give warmth to an otherwise clinical scenography and the result has been executed to a high quality level.”

Photo by Jonathan Leijonhufvud/Aēsop

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,” said the judges.

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

Photo by Luis Marie

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.

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

Photo by Flokk

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,” said the jury. “Not only is the design hardwearing, but should it get damaged it is easily repairable due to its efficient use of few components.”

“The designer has also reduced the material bulk and visual weight from the construction, breathing a new aesthetic language into workplace design,” they continued.

Photo by Volvo Cars

Product design (consumer design) of the year: Volvo EX90 by Volvo Cars

Car brand 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 advocates for a safer driving environment,” said the master jury.

“The concentration of intelligence and innovation is off the charts.”

Photo by Elizabeth Lock/Rawframed

Highly commended product design (consumer design) of the year: Kibu Children’s Headphones by Morrama and Batch.Works

Colourful headphones – crafted from agricultural packaging waste and designed for children – that can be built, repaired, and recycled were highly commended in the product design (consumer design) category.

“This is a well resolved and interesting project that advocates for a different system for manufacture and distribution,” said the judges.

“Refreshingly, self-assembly becomes part of the experience and education for the child and a culture of care and repair is championed from the outset,” they added.

Photo by Dan Tobin Smith

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 appreciated the “futuristic and cool” aesthetic of the helmet.

“The construction of this helmet proposes something totally new in a product category that is hard to disrupt,” they said. “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.”

Photo by Gian Domenico Troiano

Product design (bathroom) of the year: 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 indoor and outdoor use,” said the design master jury. “The materials used add texture to the clean lines of the collection.”

Photo by Casper Sejersen

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.

“The client’s sustainability targets are committed in this analogue graphic design project,” said the jury.

“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.”

Photo by Practice on Earth and Increments Studio

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 are beautiful, poetic and stand out in this rural setting,” said the jury. “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.”

Dezeen Awards 2025 in partnership with Bentley

Dezeen Awards is the ultimate accolade for architects and designers across the globe. The eighth edition of the annual awards programme is in partnership with Bentley as part of a wider collaboration to inspire, support and champion design excellence and showcase innovation that creates a better and more sustainable world. This ambition complements Bentley’s architecture and design business initiatives, including the Bentley Home range of furnishings and real estate projects around the world.

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AtMa’s seating collection wins Dezeen Awards 2025 design project of the year

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