What does it take to win a prestigious award in the world of office furniture?
Ergonomics must play a role: designs that keep you well-supported through the week. Then there’s style—timeless aesthetics that fit seamlessly into a range of workspaces. Or perhaps it’s all about delivering comfort that gets you through a busy day.
And how are these awards decided? Who has the enviable job of sitting, swivelling, and testing one exceptional chair after another?
If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to reach the top in seating design—and how these award-winning chairs could elevate your workspace—read on.
Red Dot Awards: marking excellence in design since 1955
The Red Dot Design Awards is a global mark of design excellence, recognising products that excel in functionality, style, and innovation. Hosted annually in Essen, Germany, and judged by a panel of top designers and industry experts, a Red Dot Award signals a product you can trust.
With thousands of entries across Product Design, Brand and Communication Design, and Design Concepts, Red Dot attracts fierce competition, and among the standout entries are office chairs from top brands worldwide.
Red Dot Award: Design Concept 2024/2025 Highlights
iF Design Awards: the gold standard for quality and performance
Since 1953, the iF Design Awards have set the global benchmark for design excellence, celebrating products that shape how we live—from interiors and technology to lifestyle essentials.
Held annually in Berlin, the iF Design Awards attract thousands of entries, each vying for the honour of being among the world’s most impressive designs. An independent jury of global design experts assesses entries based on criteria like innovation, comfort, and usability.
The office chair category is a highlight, with entries that elevate ergonomic design, sustainability, and precision engineering.
This was the iF DESIGN AWARD 2024 Jury: Dive into this exclusive compilation of three intense days full of discussions and design excellence from all over the world.
And the award goes to…
Now that you know what makes an award-winning chair, let’s dive into a few standout chairs that can bring Red Dot and iF Design excellence right to your workspace.
Want the best of the best?
Meet the duo award-winning Konfurb Duoblock Chair
- Awards won: Red Dot “Best of the Best” 2018 and iF Design Award 2019
- Designer: Martin Ballendat
- Design: Durable and versatile, the modular design caters to multi-user, high-performance settings.
- Claim to fame: The only chair to win both Red Dot and iF Awards, the Konfurb Duoblock chair (2019) is built for busy spaces that demand all-round excellence. This dual award-winning chair is stackable, lightweight, and UV protected, making it particularly popular in hospitality settings and for indoor and outdoor use.
Statement by the Jury:
This multipurpose chair impresses with its formal elegance. Based on a design innovation, it enables a highly cost-effective production. It is stable, durable and very easy to stack. Offering a very pleasant sitting comfort, it is suitable for a wide range of applications. The Duoblock chair literally represents the essence of a chair, epitomised by the notions of simplicity and functionality.
Doubtful about durability?
Search no further than the Konfurb Fly Sled chair
- Award won: Red Dot Design Award 2015
- Designer: Claudio Bellini
- Design: The lightweight sled frame provides long-lasting durability with a sleek, modern look.
- Claim to fame: Minimalist style meets strength and durability in the Konfurb Fly Sled chair (2015). This modern award-winning chair provides lasting support for demanding environments, including hospitality, classrooms, corporate offices, and other high-use industries.
Statement by the Jury:
The dynamic chair Konfurb Fly chair calls special attention to itself with its large selection of chair legs, which allow a wide range of possible configurations.
Craving comfort?
Settle yourself into the Konfurb Harmony 5-Star chair
- Award won: iF Design Award 2019
- Designer: Martin Ballendat
- Design: Flexible adjustments mean it adapts perfectly to diverse seating needs.
- Claim to fame: A popular school chair that features a heavy-duty five-star swivel base, seat height adjustability, and dynamic seat movement, the Konfurb Harmony 5 Star chair (2019) offers customisable comfort while also allowing for natural movement.
The Konfurb Harmony chair is a multi-purpose light task chair. Its specialty is the unique design of the back. The ergonomic design offers great seating comfort and support for your body. Produced in two colours and with different upholstery fabrics, this is an interesting and eye-catching chair designed for the modern working environment.
Meet the visionaries behind the award-winning chairs
Claudio Bellini
Innovating with Italian flair
Italian architect and designer Claudio Bellini is celebrated for designs that blend elegance with functionality, crafting award-winning chairs that set new standards in style and comfort.
Consider the Konfurb Fly Series: Inspired by the contours of the human body, the chairs’ sleek lines maximise support, the durable polypropylene shell adds resilience and a seat pad with customisable upholstery suits any professional setting.
Martin Ballendat
Global influence in the Konfurb Duoblock and Konfurb Harmony Series
Hailing from Germany, Martin Ballendat is a globally renowned industrial designer known for an innovative approach and a plethora of design awards.
Among his celebrated designs are the Konfurb Duoblock chair, winner of Red Dot’s Best of the Best in 2018 and an iF Design Award in 2019, and the Konfurb Harmony Series, including the iF Award-winning Konfurb Harmony 5 Star chair (2019).
Real environments transformed by award-winning chairs
St Andrew’s Lutheran College’s Centre for Creative Industries
St Andrew’s Lutheran College in Tallebugera Gold Coast transformed its Centre for Creative Industries to support students’ diverse learning needs.
Seating includes Konfurb Harmony and Konfurb Fly chairs, and Buro Revo stools. These flexible seating options accommodate various heights and mobility needs, fostering collaboration and adapting to different learning styles.
Villanova College’s revamped classrooms feature award-winning chairs
Villanova College in Brisbane wanted learning spaces that cultivate collaboration. Buro’s Konfurb Fly Sled chairs provide durable, comfortable seating, while lightweight Konfurb Link tables allow easy reconfiguration.
MTF Finance strengthens its brand identity
MTF Finance in Howick Pakuranga, Auckland modernised its workspace with a vibrant, brand-aligned design.
Customised in MTF’s colours, Buro’s Konfurb Orbit Mid Back chairs, Konfurb Fly Barstools, and Mondo Soho chairs enhance comfort and adaptability in the open-plan layout. This update creates an inviting environment, reinforcing brand identity while supporting customer engagement and employee well-being.
Seating for modern learning environments across New Zealand
Education has changed, and so have the chairs that best meet the needs of modern learning environments in New Zealand. Schools are looking for ergonomic support, durability, and adaptability, with seating solutions accommodating various learning styles.
Buro’s school chairs—the Konfurb Harmony and Konfurb Fly Sled in particular—are designed to enhance comfort and engagement for students and staff. Our easy-to-rearrange office chairs allow classrooms to adapt to changing activities while maintaining a comfortable and productive setting.
Find your award-winning chair today
So, what’s your preference? Whether you’re seeking long-lasting support, a visually striking piece, or versatile comfort, there are award-winning chairs ready to transform your workspace.
Explore the Konfurb office chairs range today and find your perfect match—because award-winning design makes all the difference.
