Vepa Wins the German Design Award 2026 for the Contact Table System
- bt3998
- Jan 21
- 2 min read
Dutch office furniture manufacturer Vepa the furniture factory has been awarded the German Design Award 2026 for its Contact table system. Contact was named WINNER in the category “Excellent Product Design – Furniture”. With this accolade, the German Design Council recognises a furniture concept designed to support hybrid meetings and enable communication on equal footing between in-person and remote participants.
At the heart of the design is a fundamental question: how can collaboration be organised spatially in today’s workplace? With its distinctive formal language, Contact establishes clear sightlines and softens traditional hierarchies at the table. The trapezoidal version ensures that participants are not seated directly opposite one another, keeping the view of the screen unobstructed while allowing cameras to capture everyone effectively. The result is a meeting setting in which all participants are visible, audible and equally engaged. For in-person meetings with larger groups, Contact is also available in a barrel-shaped configuration. Gently rounded edges reinforce the open character of discussion, avoiding dominant head positions.
The German Design Award jury highlighted in particular the system’s synthesis of form and function: Contact impresses with a clear, versatile design that effectively supports a wide range of meeting scenarios. Its nuanced formal expression and adaptable frame options add a distinctive accent, meeting the demands of contemporary furniture design at an outstanding level.
In terms of colour, the system can be seamlessly integrated into modern workplace concepts. Available in a broad selection of colours and materials, Contact can be specified in a restrained palette for classic meeting rooms or used as a deliberately designed statement piece within collaborative zones. Here, colour serves a strategic purpose: it provides orientation, strengthens recognition and can define spatial zones without requiring structural interventions. Contact is manufactured in Vepa’s near-zero-waste facilities in the Netherlands. Short delivery routes, recyclable materials and transparent processes underscore the company’s sustainability ambitions.
The German Design Award is regarded as one of the most prestigious international distinctions in design. Since 2012, it has honoured outstanding achievements in product design, communication design and architecture, while highlighting key design trends on a global stage.
About Vepa
Vepa the furniture factory is a leading manufacturer of office and contract furniture based in the Netherlands and part of the Fair Furniture Group. From product development to production, the company follows the principles of the circular economy and manufactures its furniture ranges 100% locally. Vepa has received multiple awards for sustainable material and design innovations and also supports organisations in implementing circular workplace strategies, for example through the inventorying, refurbishment and reuse of existing furniture.