It's A Metaphor Table

It's A Metaphor Table

It's a Metaphor Table is an innovative furniture design piece that combines functional aesthetics with social commentary, created by British designer Emanuele Di Bacco. This thought-provoking table design, which earned the Bronze A' Design Award in the Furniture Design category, cleverly challenges gender inequality through its distinctive representation of a sumo wrestler in a supporting position. The design features a 3D-printed structure finished with vitreous enamel coating, supporting a 1800mm diameter tempered glass top that can accommodate up to ten people. The table's conceptual foundation draws inspiration from Japanese sumo wrestling, traditionally a male-dominated sport where women are excluded from professional competition due to historical beliefs about ritual purity. By positioning a sumo figure in a submissive, supportive role, the design subtly subverts traditional power dynamics while maintaining functionality as a practical piece of furniture. The table's construction demonstrates technical sophistication through its multi-part assembly system, incorporating structural reinforcements to ensure stability and durability. The piece exemplifies how contemporary furniture design can transcend mere utility to address broader societal issues, using humor and irony as rhetorical devices to challenge established norms. This design approach, which combines social consciousness with practical functionality, represents a significant contribution to the evolving dialogue between design and social advocacy, particularly in addressing gender equality issues through material culture.

furniture design, social commentary, gender equality, contemporary table, sumo wrestler, innovative furniture

— Adam Dawson

CITATION : "Adam Dawson. 'It's A Metaphor Table.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/define/its-a-metaphor-table?E=455844 (Accessed on October 14, 2026)"