The Cuban is a bar cabinet that acts as both a refined storage piece and a social catalyst within the space. Integrating a humidor, it preserves and presents whiskey and cigars as curated objects of ritual. Its upper surface is conceived as a DJ deck, accommodating turntables and music equipment, positioning the piece at the center of atmosphere and interaction. Developed as part of the Disco House collection, the design builds on the relationship between music, space and human behavior, translating the spirit of late 1970s and early 1980s nightlife into a contemporary, performative object.
Designed by Alp Usluduran
Recognized by A' Design Award.
Uslu Design Studio was founded in 2025 by Istanbul based interior architect and designer Alp Usluduran, as an extension of his architectural practice. After completing his studies in interior architecture at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University and design at Accademia di Brera in Milan, he established Uslu Architects in 2015, where he developed a design driven approach over more than a decade. This approach is defined by treating space as a complete system, where furniture and detail are not secondary elements but integral parts of the architectural composition. Uslu Design Studio builds on this foundation, translating architectural thinking into objects and collectible furniture, and approaching furniture as a direct extension of spatial design. The Disco House collection marks a new phase of this trajectory, debuting at Milan Design Week 2026, where architecture, object and atmosphere converge into a refined and contemporary expression.
Alp Usluduran has AA Rating, valid through 2026. AA stands for Excellent Rating. DBI Awards the AA Rating to entities demonstrating designs of high quality and innovation, marked by consistent performance and a commitment to delivering exceptional outcomes. This rating reflects a dedication to achieving excellence in innovation and design. This certificate is awarded following a rigorous evaluation process conducted by an esteemed jury panel, comprising a diverse group of experts from around the world, including journalists, academics, design professionals, and entrepreneurs. The assessment adheres to a blind peer-review methodology, ensuring complete impartiality. Entries are meticulously evaluated based on pre-established criteria, with scores being normalized and standardized to uphold fairness and consistency. This process recognizes and highlights excellent achievements in innovation, design quality, and creative capacity.
Use the form below to discover award-winning designers, brands, and more on the Design Business Index.
The Design Business Index (DBI) is a merit-based rating system and professional directory founded to address one of the design industry’s biggest challenges: the difficulty of reliably assessing a designer’s true capabilities before a project begins. Through its partnership with the internationally recognized A’ Design Award, DBI combines a rigorous blind review process with transparent evaluation criteria to transform subjective design quality into objective credentials. By featuring only those who have demonstrated excellence under these stringent standards, DBI ensures a carefully curated pool of top talent, where clients can make confident, data-driven decisions about creative partnerships.
Beyond its directory, DBI offers a comprehensive DBI Credibility Suite™ designed to help designers and studios stand out in an overcrowded market. Each DBI-rated professional receives authoritative certificates, digital assets, and rating logos that validate their skills and attest to their proven creative excellence. These tools seamlessly integrate into websites, social media, and marketing materials—reinforcing trust, credibility, and, ultimately, market value. Notably, DBI ratings remain valid for a two-year period, encouraging ongoing professional development and highlighting those who continuously push the boundaries of innovation.
By systematically reducing guesswork and eliminating reliance on subjective portfolio reviews alone, the Design Business Index creates a more efficient, trustworthy, and merit-based environment for both clients and designers. With DBI, top talent rises above the noise, clients gain peace of mind, and the entire global design community benefits from higher standards of creativity, innovation, and professional excellence.
Design Business Index champions design excellence, valuing official recognition from respected international juries over mere popularity. Our criteria focus on transparent, rigorous evaluations by peers, assessing quality, ethics, and innovation. Notably, the prestigious A' Design Award highlights truly exceptional projects, judged by academics, press members, and professionals using a documented scoring system. We exclusively feature professionals and studios that have earned at least one peer-reviewed award, particularly the A' Design Award, ensuring that our listings represent meritocratic accomplishment, innovation, and credibility.
Pro Entry
Digital Entry
Smart Entry
Industry Standard Entry
