1950
With modern materials, mid-century design is fun, colorful, light, and often inspired by automotive design and space-age aesthetics. The shapes are organic and whimsical. Danish designers impress the world with sophisticated teak and jacaranda furniture.
1957, HANSA bookcase, designed by IKEA of Sweden
The HANSA bookcase was the beginning of how IKEA of Sweden AB started working with its own design. The bookcase with a black steel frame had wooden shelves that could be adjusted in height. HANSA is outlined by Gillis Lundgren, one of Ingvar Kamprad's closest collaborators.
1958, dywan BÅSTAD, project Gillis Lundgren
Axminster's new wool rug, BÅSTAD, was evidence of the ongoing effort to modernize wool rugs with contemporary designs rather than mere imitations of oriental designs. Wilton rugs and Axminster rugs are machine made, making them very efficient and quick to produce, and the techniques used are very similar. They also have a lower price than traditional hand-knotted rugs.
1960
Colorful furniture and design objects in bright red, yellow and orange plastic reflect the youthful character of the era. Italian designers such as Vico Magistretti, Joe Colombo and Achille Castiglione create playful space-age designs using the possibilities of mass production of modern materials. In Finland, designers such as Yrjö Kukkapuro and Eero Aarnio create a Nordic version of Italian style.
1961, chest of drawers TORE, project Gillis Lundgren
The TORE chest of drawers was one of the products from the 1960s that was not packed flat. Back then, there weren't that many good fittings and manufacturing solutions that would allow for flat packing and self-assembly. Those that existed would make the product difficult to assemble and quite unstable. For this reason, the TORE drawer has remained fully assembled.
1963, MTP wardrobe, designed by Marian Grabiński
The MTP office was originally a wedding present for Ingvar Kamprad and his wife Margareta. The light oak construction combined with many functions and an affordable price have made this cabinet a true IKEA sensation that people have been raving about for over 10 years.
The MTP office was originally a wedding present for Ingvar Kamprad and his wife Margareta.
1964, ANNA children's table and chairs, designed by Otto Nielsen
The ANNA children's chair was reversible, so it could offer two different seat heights: 24.5 and 18.5 centimeters, so that the child could grow with it. It first appeared in the IKEA catalog in 1964 and was sold for an impressive 25 years.
lata 70
The 1970s, primarily associated with ruffled carpets, lava lamps and wallpaper on top, is also a period in which the ecological conscience was born in the world of design. The dominance of plastic in modern design comes to an abrupt end with the oil crisis of 1973. In protest against mass production, Italian designer Enzo Mari publishes drawings of simple DIY projects.
1970, TELEGONO table lamp, designed by Vico Magistretti
The TELEGONO table lamp is made of plastic, which is a huge trend thanks to the possibility of mass production. A well-thought-out design made it possible to turn the lamp and direct the light. But still, it only lasted one season.
1973, fotel TAJT, proj. Gillis Lundgren
Ingvar Kamprad bought five kilometers of denim fabric and instructed designers and product developers to be creative - and thus the TAJT armchair was born. Denim fabric and beautiful leather buttons made this armchair one of the most famous IKEA products at the time.
lata 80
The Italian Memphis postmodern design movement, founded by Ettore Sottsass in 1981, replaces reductionist modernist design aesthetics with geometric, playful furniture and objects that border on kitsch. The same trend can be seen in architecture, where the glamor and splendor of Las Vegas becomes a significant influencer, and in art, where large, bold paintings fetch record prices at auction.
1980, sofa KLIPPAN/BLOCKRAND, project IKEA of Sweden
The KLIPPAN sofa was designed as an alternative to expensive designer sofas that were not safe or sturdy enough for children to play on. The soft shapes and removable and washable covers in many styles, such as the BLOCKRAND cover, made it a kid-friendly favorite that lives on to this day.
The KLIPPAN sofa was designed as an alternative to expensive designer sofas that were not safe or sturdy enough for children to play on.
1981, SKYAR duvet cover and pillowcase, designed by Sven Fristedt
The SKYAR graphic was designed by Sven Fristedt and this dreamy cloud pattern is one of his most famous IKEA designs - it was even sold as wallpaper!
lata 90
Minimalism is back in design. Designers such as Marc Newson, Jasper Morrison, Naoto Fukasawa, the Swedes Claesson Koivisto Rune and many others create elegant, minimalist and bright furniture and objects that stand in sharp contrast to the fun, postmodern aesthetics of the stylistically wild 80s. Stockholm is officially the coolest place on Earth, according to the biblical trend wallpaper.
1994, ANTILOP high chair, designed by IKEA of Sweden
The ANTILOP high chair was the first IKEA children's chair that was immediately created as a model in the computer, instead of being developed by a designer and design engineer. It is sold to this day and has become something of a classic that can be found in thousands of homes.
2000'erne
Designers such as Konstantin Grcic and Patricia Urquiola dominate the furniture fair in Milan, the former with web-like geometric shapes, the latter with organic shapes and unexpected, playful combinations of materials, colors and patterns. Inventions such as CNC milling (computer numerical control), CAD software (computer-aided design) and 3D printing make entirely new forms possible.
2000, IKEA a.i.r fotel ROLIG, proj. Jan Dranger
The IKEA a.i.r armchair was an attempt to solve the age-old IKEA problem – how to get the flattest possible packages with the lowest possible weight. An inflatable plastic chair was inflated with air using a hair dryer and then covered with a fabric cover. Although it reduced the consumption of raw materials by 85% and the transport volume by 90%, the chairs leaked. The resigned IKEA a.i.r. ROLIG floated quietly out of the IKEA range.
The idea was to fill it with air using a hair dryer and then dress it in a fabric cover.
2000, FAMNIG pillow, designed by Anna Efverlund
The FAMNIG children's pillow is actually the successful result of a big failure: the plastic eyes on existing IKEA soft toys may have come loose. So we created FAMNIG - a cute heart without eyes, loved by children all over the world. Thanks to what happened, we have learned to systematize work with safety even more.
2002, Konewka IKEA PS/VÅLLÖ, project Monika Mulder
This watering can is a true IKEA classic thanks to its affordable price and simple design in different colors. The slightly curved spout makes it easy to make and has helped water many plants and flowers in many homes over the years.
The VÅLLÖ water jug is a true IKEA classic thanks to its affordable price and simple design in different colors.
2010'erne
Socially and environmentally sustainable design is presented as a way for designers to help combat climate change. By sourcing raw materials close to production, reducing the need for transport with 3D printing, enabling recycling and reducing toxic materials, designers want to help people change their behavior and save the planet.
2015, SINNERLIG stool, designed by Ilse Crawford
The SINNERLIG stool is made of natural cork and clean design and is primarily designed to appeal to the human senses and increase well-being in the home. Cork was an obvious choice – both for its style and because all the harvested bark is taken care of during production to minimize waste.
2015, MĘSTERBY stool, designed by Chris Martin
The MĘSTERBY stool is light, durable and stackable. Not only does it help people reach for high-end things, but it also helps them be a little more planet-friendly because it's made from recycled polypropylene.
Subjects
- Innovation
Other stories you might be interested in
FAQs
How has IKEA changed over the years? ›
IKEA has become more digital and accessible while embracing new ways to connect with more people. Customer behavior and media consumption have changed, and fewer people read the IKEA Catalogue today than in years past.
How IKEA can improve? ›They are aiming to become a fully circular business by 2030 to eliminate waste and reuse resources. The social cultural trend that could benefit IKEA in the future is the increase in online shopping. IKEA could use this to their advantage to push online sales to increase overall sales.
Why are IKEA constantly developing new materials? ›We aim to design in ways that allow you to recycle products at the end of their lifetime, thus minimising waste. That's why we're constantly looking for new ways to use scrap materials and recyclables and turn them into something useful and stylish for your home, like with KUNGSBACKA kitchen fronts.
What are IKEA's critical success factors? ›Low Cost, High Quality
The brand's signature style is low-cost self-assembling furniture that does not skimp on quality. This is what makes the business envious of its competitors. Materials used in IKEA furniture are thoroughly described to ensure customers know exactly what they're paying for.
IKEA equates to clean lines and starkly simple silhouettes. Mid-century modern design dives deeper into darker color palettes while the IKEA Scandinavian decor will always strive for an overall lighter color base.
How has technology changed IKEA? ›IKEA has been experimenting with augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies to enhance customer experiences. The company has tested VR in stores to help customers visualize how furniture fits in their homes and has acquired California-based Geomagical Labs to develop a 3D home visualization tool.
What changes has IKEA made? ›IKEA's flagship mega stores will begin doubling as distribution hubs. Following a surge in online shopping during the pandemic, when consumers were trying to avoid trips to the store, IKEA is investing in its physical locations to make them more e-commerce friendly.
What was the main problem for IKEA? ›The pandemic limited growth in FY21, and IKEA retail sales benefited as the world re-opened. On the other hand, inflation and supply chain issues impacted FY22 sales, and lead to rising costs and higher prices. That means sales have grown in money, but sales quantities have not kept up.
What makes IKEA a successful innovation? ›IKEA is undoubtedly one of the world leaders in business innovation. It carries innovation deep within its philosophy, constantly looking for ways to improve or come up with new service propositions. The interest in its customer buying habits helps this company constantly improve its levels of innovation.
How did IKEA become innovative? ›By outsourcing the effort to the customer, the company was able to keep the costs of products down. Once the majority of IKEA furniture was being sold flat-packed, the design of the shops could be completely rethought. This heralded the birth of warehouse-style stores in out-of-town locations.
How has IKEA become more sustainable? ›
We're transforming the entire way of working within the IKEA value chain from a linear to a circular business. This means designing all products from the beginning to be repurposed, repaired, reused, resold and recycled, generating as little waste as possible.
What makes IKEA different from others? ›What makes IKEA so different from other furniture stores? IKEA was the first company to conceive of home furnishings as a lifestyle instead of individual stand-alone products. IKEA is not just furniture. It also includes a wide range of complimentary home furnishings related products.
Why is IKEA different from its competitors? ›Offering the lowest prices.
Cost effectiveness is one of the solid bases of IKEA competitive advantage. The global furniture retailer is able to offer low prices thanks to a combination of economies of scale and technological integration into various business processes.