Inside a secretive Swedish facility, Ikea, the world-renowned furniture retailer, develops up to 2,000 new products annually. This process involves meticulous design and testing, as exemplified by designer Mikael Axelsson’s journey with a unique chair concept. Since 2014, Axelsson has been working on a miniature model of a chair, combining bent wire, hand-carved foam, and hot glue. His vision was to create a modern piece of furniture inspired by the novelty blow-up furniture of the 1990s. The idea was to construct a metal frame filled with a cushion resembling a balloon, offering a fresh take on home furnishings. This glimpse into Ikea’s design process highlights the creativity and innovation behind the brand’s popular products.
QUESTION: How might the innovative design processes at companies like Ikea influence the future of home furnishings and consumer expectations?
Inside Ikea’s dream factory: Its prototyping lab (exclusive)
