IZZI Ambigram Chair: Thai Designer Wins ‘Winner in Chair’ at SIT Furniture Design Award 2025, Prestigious International Furniture Design Award
In the diverse world of furniture design—where form meets function and innovation redefines tradition—the “IZZI Ambigram Chair” stands out as a daring yet sophisticated creation. Designed by Asst. Prof. Dr. Chaiwat Suwana-on, a lecturer in Industrial Design at the Faculty of Architecture, Chiang Mai University, the chair was honored with the “Winner in Chair” award from the SIT Furniture Design Award 2025, a globally recognized furniture design competition.
The SIT Furniture Design Award, now in its fifth year, is an international platform that continues to gain attention from the global design community. This year, it received over 400 entries from designers representing more than 44 countries worldwide. These entries showcased remarkable diversity and creativity.
Among the key awards:
- Interior Designer of the Year was awarded to No Footprint Wood House by A-01, an architectural masterpiece that seamlessly integrates with its surrounding ecosystem.
- Furniture Design of the Year went to Gather and Tiers, a concrete public seating project by Foster + Partners.
- Emerging Furniture Designer of the Year was claimed by The Saddle Stool by Elay Dagan.
Other outstanding entries included Floating Bed by Winzeler Holzdesign and the TOPOS Outdoor Furniture Collection by Zaha Hadid Architects.
The judging process was overseen by a distinguished panel of experts from Europe, Asia, and the Americas, including designers, architects, and academics such as Lilian González-González, Alain Gilles, Nima Bavardi, Christina Chen-Chiao Kuo, Bo Zhang, Richie Moalosi, Fereshteh Haji Gholami, and Javier Palomares, among others.
This year, Thailand takes pride in celebrating a remarkable achievement—the IZZI Ambigram Chair by a Thai designer secured the “Winner in Chair” accolade. Drawing inspiration from the Ambigram, a type of lettering readable from multiple orientations, the chair’s structure is designed to function in both upright and inverted positions. It can be rotated 180 degrees without losing balance or ergonomic integrity.
This design embodies a convergence of innovation, beauty, and boldness, challenging traditional norms in furniture design. Constructed using contemporary materials such as wood, aluminum, and brass, it merges form and function seamlessly. The IZZI Ambigram Chair is not just a seat—it is a design conversation, inviting user interaction and engagement.
Mr. Hossein Farmani, Co-founder of the SIT Furniture Design Award and Chairman of the Farmani Group, remarked on the IZZI Ambigram Chair: “We are thrilled to congratulate Asst. Prof. Dr. Chaiwat Suwan-on his well-deserved recognition at the SIT Furniture Design Award for his outstanding creation, the IZZI Ambigram Chair. This innovative design exemplifies a harmonious balance between form and function, showcasing his deep understanding of ergonomics and artistic expression. The IZZI Ambigram Chair stands out for its sculptural elegance, conceptual depth, and versatile usability—reflecting the kind of forward-thinking approach that inspires the entire design community. It is an honor to see such exceptional talent celebrated on an international stage.”
As such, the IZZI Ambigram Chair does not merely reflect modern aesthetics but symbolizes the potential of Thai designers to excel on the global stage. Winning the Winner in Chair award is a testament to Thailand’s presence and recognition in international design circles.
The designer, Asst. Prof. Dr. Chaiwat Suwana-on, specializes in industrial design and has a track record of innovation. He advocates for “no-tools-required design”, an approach that allows furniture assembly without traditional tools. His previous achievements include an Honorable Mention from the SIT Furniture Design Award 2024 and the International Design Award (IDA) 2023.
