Ziwa
Prize(s):
WINNER 2026 PRODUCT DESIGN / Furniture & Lighting
Company Name:the minimalist
Lead Designer(s) Name(s):Jason Joseph Henry
Design Team / Other designer(s):Jason Joseph Henry, Joshua George Henry
Other Contributor(s):Artisans - Nathaniel Hendry, Brendon Kapot, Mvuyisi Hlazo, Jonathan Ramookho
Manufacturer Name:the minimalist
Distributors Name:the minimalist
Client Name:Thokozile Gotter
Photo Credit:House & Leisure
Project Location:Oranjezicht, Cape Town
Design Status:Commercialized
Website: View
Product Description:
Elevate your interior with the handcrafted stainless steel Console table, a refined balance of modern design and architectural form. Featuring a smooth curved top and bold cylindrical legs, this contemporary console table creates a sculptural presence while maintaining clean minimalist lines. The brushed Stainless Steel finish offers durability, corrosion resistance, and a timeless metallic tone that complements modern, industrial, and luxury interiors. Designed for versatility, this modern entryway console table functions beautifully in hallways, living rooms, offices, or reception spaces. Its compact footprint makes it ideal for narrow spaces while still providing a striking surface for décor, books, or statement objects. Precision metal fabrication ensures structural strength, seamless joints, and a flawless finish that reflects premium craftsmanship. In the end, the greatest challenge was not making something complex, but making something feel effortless. After all the noise of forming, welding, grinding, and refining, the final piece needed to appear calm, simple, and inevitable.
Elevate your interior with the handcrafted stainless steel Console table, a refined balance of modern design and architectural form. Featuring a smooth curved top and bold cylindrical legs, this contemporary console table creates a sculptural presence while maintaining clean minimalist lines. The brushed Stainless Steel finish offers durability, corrosion resistance, and a timeless metallic tone that complements modern, industrial, and luxury interiors. Designed for versatility, this modern entryway console table functions beautifully in hallways, living rooms, offices, or reception spaces. Its compact footprint makes it ideal for narrow spaces while still providing a striking surface for décor, books, or statement objects. Precision metal fabrication ensures structural strength, seamless joints, and a flawless finish that reflects premium craftsmanship. In the end, the greatest challenge was not making something complex, but making something feel effortless. After all the noise of forming, welding, grinding, and refining, the final piece needed to appear calm, simple, and inevitable.
Product Innovation / Specification:
Although the table appears minimal and effortless, its fabrication required exceptional technical control and careful process development. The purity of the form leaves no room for error; precision, surface continuity, and structural integrity are fully exposed, making even the smallest inaccuracy immediately visible. A key challenge was achieving the geometry of the top edge. This required controlled forming using a fly press to produce consistent radii along the edge profile. Multiple forming iterations were necessary to refine the tooling and achieve the correct curvature without introducing distortion into the sheet. Weld placement and finishing were carefully planned to maintain structural strength while minimizing visible seams. Extensive dressing, sanding, and blending ensured a continuous surface while controlling heat distortion and preserving the formed geometry. This table represents the second iteration of the design. Lessons from the first prototype informed improvements to the forming process, weld sequencing, and finishing strategy, resulting in a refined piece whose calm simplicity conceals the complexity of its making.
Although the table appears minimal and effortless, its fabrication required exceptional technical control and careful process development. The purity of the form leaves no room for error; precision, surface continuity, and structural integrity are fully exposed, making even the smallest inaccuracy immediately visible. A key challenge was achieving the geometry of the top edge. This required controlled forming using a fly press to produce consistent radii along the edge profile. Multiple forming iterations were necessary to refine the tooling and achieve the correct curvature without introducing distortion into the sheet. Weld placement and finishing were carefully planned to maintain structural strength while minimizing visible seams. Extensive dressing, sanding, and blending ensured a continuous surface while controlling heat distortion and preserving the formed geometry. This table represents the second iteration of the design. Lessons from the first prototype informed improvements to the forming process, weld sequencing, and finishing strategy, resulting in a refined piece whose calm simplicity conceals the complexity of its making.
Product Sustainability Approach:
Sustainability was central to this design: the table was crafted entirely from off-cut material salvaged from other projects; material that would have otherwise been discarded—giving new life to what would have been waste.
Sustainability was central to this design: the table was crafted entirely from off-cut material salvaged from other projects; material that would have otherwise been discarded—giving new life to what would have been waste.
Local and Regional Impacts of the Product:
Crafted from off-cut materials that would have otherwise been discarded, it reduces industrial waste and demonstrates how sustainable fabrication can give new life to leftover resources. By showcasing the skill and precision of South African metal fabricators, it supports local craftsmanship, creates skilled employment opportunities, and sets a benchmark for high-quality, responsibly made furniture. The design promotes a uniquely South African approach to minimalism and sustainability, inspiring emerging makers and encouraging clients to value products built to last. Beyond the city, pieces like this highlight South Africa’s potential in the regional and international design market, showing that sustainable, sophisticated, locally produced furniture can compete on a global stage.
Crafted from off-cut materials that would have otherwise been discarded, it reduces industrial waste and demonstrates how sustainable fabrication can give new life to leftover resources. By showcasing the skill and precision of South African metal fabricators, it supports local craftsmanship, creates skilled employment opportunities, and sets a benchmark for high-quality, responsibly made furniture. The design promotes a uniquely South African approach to minimalism and sustainability, inspiring emerging makers and encouraging clients to value products built to last. Beyond the city, pieces like this highlight South Africa’s potential in the regional and international design market, showing that sustainable, sophisticated, locally produced furniture can compete on a global stage.
Company Name:the minimalist
Lead Designer(s) Name(s):Jason Joseph Henry
Profile Description:
The Minimalist are custom designers and fabricators of stainless steel & non ferrous metals. They also boast a collection of ready-to-order stainless steel and metal pieces, crafted with a deep passion for exceptional design and precision metal fabrication. Every item is thoughtfully designed and meticulously manufactured by our skilled metal fabricators using high-quality stainless steel and premium materials. Every piece elevating the style of your home, office, or commercial space with refined, contemporary metalwork that blends durability, functionality, and timeless design.
The Minimalist are custom designers and fabricators of stainless steel & non ferrous metals. They also boast a collection of ready-to-order stainless steel and metal pieces, crafted with a deep passion for exceptional design and precision metal fabrication. Every item is thoughtfully designed and meticulously manufactured by our skilled metal fabricators using high-quality stainless steel and premium materials. Every piece elevating the style of your home, office, or commercial space with refined, contemporary metalwork that blends durability, functionality, and timeless design.
Environmental Practices:
90% of our Stainless Steel is recycled which is more environmentally friendly and sustainable as stainless steel doesn't rust so pieces can last a lifetime. Stainless Steel is one of the few metals/materials that can be recycled indefinitely. Non of our scrap ends up in landfill, but rather goes back to the scrap yard to restart its lifecycle.
90% of our Stainless Steel is recycled which is more environmentally friendly and sustainable as stainless steel doesn't rust so pieces can last a lifetime. Stainless Steel is one of the few metals/materials that can be recycled indefinitely. Non of our scrap ends up in landfill, but rather goes back to the scrap yard to restart its lifecycle.
Previous Awards Won:
Scape Awards Maker of the Year 2025 Scape Awards Runner Up for Masterpiece of the Year 2025 Scape Awards Top 100 2025
Scape Awards Maker of the Year 2025 Scape Awards Runner Up for Masterpiece of the Year 2025 Scape Awards Top 100 2025
