AC1 - Informing Ideas
BRIEF:
Ciao,
You've been selected by the furniture brand IKEA to create a new armchair aimed at young couples for sale in 2060. The product should be for use indoors and be flat pack.
Although your work should take into consideration all areas of the design process, particular attention should be paid to the aesthetics and production cost of the proposed design concept. The final solution should have a retail value of $100 (135 sgd) or less.
You have 24 hours to complete and submit this design brief. Your presentation should be digital and include free hand sketches and 3D CAD.
Ciao,
You've been selected by the furniture brand IKEA to create a new armchair aimed at young couples for sale in 2060. The product should be for use indoors and be flat pack.
Although your work should take into consideration all areas of the design process, particular attention should be paid to the aesthetics and production cost of the proposed design concept. The final solution should have a retail value of $100 (135 sgd) or less.
You have 24 hours to complete and submit this design brief. Your presentation should be digital and include free hand sketches and 3D CAD.
IKEA RESEARCH
Mission
Mission
Mission statement:
'To offer a wide range of well-designed, functional home furnishing products at prices so low that as many people as possible will be able to afford them'.
Vision:
'To create a better everyday life for the many people'
Sustainability goals
Sustainability goals
Aims:
Our aim is to use more renewable and recycled materials, eliminate waste in our operations, and change the way we design products and the services we offer to prolong the life of products and see them as resources for the future.
Using resources within the limits of our planet:
Making more from less is part of the IKEA culture. We constantly look for ways to get the most out of every step in our production.
The two biggest raw materials used in our products today are cotton and wood. Ensuring that these are sourced and used in a sustainable way is crucial and can make a big difference for our planet.
Cotton and wood from more sustainable sources:
With cotton, we have already reached one important goal. Since 2015, all the cotton we use for IKEA products comes from more sustainable sources. This means that the cotton is either recycled, or grown with less water, chemical fertiliser and pesticide, while increasing profit margins for farmers.
Our aim is that by 2020, this will be the case for 100% of the wood we use.
Circular economy:
“We want to be circular in every aspect of our business. We want to make it easier for customers to acquire, care for and pass on products in circular ways, such as repairing, reusing, reselling, and recycling them. To do this, we are committed to designing all of our products to be 100% circular from the beginning, using only renewable or recycled materials, and to developing circular capabilities in our supply chain. But we can’t do this alone. To get there, we are building new partnerships and cooperations with others. Our ambition is to be 100% circular by 2030.” (READ MORE)
Brand/identity
Brand/identity
Our product designs
Design for everyone
Our products are created with 5 dimensions in mind: function, form, quality and sustainability—all at a low price. We call it “Democratic Design” because we believe good furnishing is for everyone, whether for individuals or businesses.
Scandinavian inspired
Influenced by Swedish heritage, our products come with simple lines, minimalism and good functionality. Our classic and light design expression stays timeless and never goes out of style.
Reusability and circular economy
IKEA is in the need of furniture suitable for a circular business model. Circular Economy is the business model where companies design products for longevity, then reusing, upcycling or recycling products to be used again in order to lower costs and reduce waste. This can be done through a rental business model. Rental furniture has been deeply researched and is promised to be the future of the furniture market. This could be because of people who can't pay the full cost of furniture in full, people who only need furniture for a temporary home, or people who like to keep up with modern design and change it up every now and then. These and more are examples of how this will be useful. IKEA has already tested this in the UK, by leasing office furniture to other companies and it has proved to be successful.
But how do we design furniture to fit this model? The furniture needs to be long lasting and durable, be buildable without any permanent changes, quick to build and dismantle and be easy to transport. (work cited: circular economy)
Materials
Materials for frame
Oak
Pros:
- Durable
- Easy to manufacture
- Looks good
Cons:
- Expensive as it's dense and its trees grow slowly
- Heavy
- Can be difficult to treat and may need many chemicals
Walnut
Pros:
- Strong and durable
- Strong colors
- Long lasting
- Stains and polishes well
Cons:
- Expensive
- Can rot if not maintained well
Pros:
- Light weight
- Strong
- Cheap due to quick growth
- Environmentally sustainable
- Looks good
Cons:
- Can sometimes be dented and damaged
Pine
Polypropylene
Pros:
- Rigid
- Tough
- Very cheap
Cons:
- Expensive
- Not environmentally friendly
PVC
Pros:
- Rigid
- Tough
- Very cheap
Cons:
- Expensive
- Not environmentally friendly
Metal
Pros:
- Very strong
- Lasts long
Cons:
- Expensive
- Heavy
- Most people don't like it for furniture
Pros:
- Light weight
- Strong
- Cheap due to quick growth
- Environmentally sustainable
- Looks good
- Can bend slightly but doesn't snap easilly.
Cons:
- Can be difficult to dye
Birch
Images from Wix.com
(Hover over the boxes)
For the frame of the armchair, I will use birch. It will make it possible to stay within the price limit whilst still being sturdy enough. It's light, so it will be easy to transport too.
More on this can be found at (works cited: frame materials)
Textiles
Leather
Pros:
- Durable
- Easy to clean
By product of meat industry
Cons:
- Expensive
- Can cause animal cruelty
- Not environmentally friendly (greenhouse gas and uses a lot of water.
- Tanning process is toxic and bad for the environment
Cotton
Pros:
- Cost-efficient
- Soft
Cons:
- Fade
- Wrinkles
- Absorbent and difficult to wash
- Environmentally unsustainable
Wool
Pros:
- Warm
- Wrinkle Resistant
- Dyeing process requires minimal water and chemicals
- Environmentally sustainable
Cons:
- Absorbent and difficult to wash
Weakens when wet
Use of pesticides
Potential for animal cruelty
Wool
Linen
Pros:
- Very strong
- Looks goof
- Comfortable
- Environmentally friendly
Cons:
- Very expensive
- Can wrinkle
- Difficult to clean
Faux leather
Pros:
- Cost-efficient
- Looks good
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- Fade
- Environmentally unsustainable
Microfiber
Pros:
- Cost-efficient
- Easy to clean
- Durable
- Luxurious
Cons:
- Fur attaches to it so not good for pets
- Not environmentally friendly
Images from Wix.com
(Hover over the boxes)
For the fabric, I will use microfiber. The main suitable benefit is that it's cost-efficient and easy to clean, making it easy to manufacture and then reuse. The main downside is that the process of making it is not environmentally friendly, however this will be used for a long time and reused, and finally recycled so the sacrifices become worth it.
Find more at (works cited: texteiles)
IKEA design choices
IKEA is known for its home-built furniture. When you go to IKEA, you leave with a flat, plain cardboard box that contains the main components of the furniture and a manual. After you leave the store, the rest is up to you. The fact that you have to build it yourself may cause you to be happier with it, and you might have a closer connection with it.
The fact that the customers build it themselves doesn't only affect the manufacturing and packaging, but also the design. The designers have to think about how it will be built and packaged in a light, flat box. Additionally, it has to be easy for anyone to build.
IKEA's design style doesn't have much detail, they like to have plain furniture with simple lines. They like the minimalist style as it appeals to wide audiences and doesn't go out of style.
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Sustainable materials
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Fit IKEA's design style
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Be comfortable
Brief Approach
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Armchair
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Made for couples
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Stay under 135 sgd
-
Be flat pack
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Suitable for indoor use
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Sketches and CAD
Must:
Must:
-
Armchair
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Made for couples
-
Stay under 135 sgd
-
Be flat pack
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Suitable for indoor use
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Sketches and CAD
Should:
Should:
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Sustainable materials
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Fit IKEA's design style
-
Be comfortable
Could:
Could:
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Be reusable and suitable for circular economy (easy to take apart: no screws, limited pieces, easy to construct and dismantle etc.)
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Fit 2 people/couples
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Be reusable and suitable for circular economy (easy to take apart: no screws, limited pieces, easy to construct and dismantle etc.)
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Fit 2 people/couples
Analyzing existing products
Critical analysis
Curvy backrest moulded from human spine
Few pieces of wood are used and flow along the chair
No back leg creates the rocking motion
Only a thin padding is needed
This is "Poäng", the second most sold piece of furniture from IKEA (architectural digest). IKEA's most famous chair has been estimated to have generated around 3 billion USD, with around 30 million sales since its initial release back in 1976.
The Japanese designer, Noboru Nakamura was hired to design this in IKEA's early days. Mr. Nakamura came up with a new type of rocking chair that hasn't been seen anywhere else, which is why this is such an important product for IKEA. He says that the elegant and satisfying swing of this chair helps let off stress and frustration.
It was originally made from Molded plywood and cotton padding but now exists in more than 30 different varieties, with different materials, colors, sizes, and minor changes.
One reason that it has held up so long is its impressive price tag of just around 100 USD while still remaining very comfortable. This is due to the clever design, the back end sinks in slightly when you sit in in to it feels like sinking in to a very soft pillow when really, it's just the wood bending slightly. Like Mr. Nakamura said, the satisfying
rocking motion is also likely to be the reason so many people love this product. Additionally, this chair is very appealing to IKEA as it has a cheap build cost, is not made from many components, and uses environmentally friendly materials. It's built from birch, a type of tree commonly found in Sweden. The wood is sturdy but flexible, allowing it to slightly bend in the rocking motion. Another feature that makes it very popular is all the options that come with it. It's easy to make it look good in all interior designs.
It's difficult to criticize the near-perfect chair. However, there have been some complaints about the comfort. Firstly, there's a piece of wood going across the backrest horizontally and people have said that it can dig into the user's back after long times of sitting in it. Secondly, it can affect the posture of those who sit in it for long periods of time as it slouches the user's back.
In conclusion, this is one of IKEA's most successful chairs and without doubt one of the most interesting pieces of furniture in IKEA's roster. This fine piece of design shows how art and engineering come together to create a beautiful and very functional product.
Experimenting
Works cited
IKEA research:
“About IKEA for Business.” Ikea.com.sg, 2020, business.ikea.com.sg/about-us. Accessed 26 Sept. 2021.
“Icelandic Decor Style Tips.” Ikea.com, 2021, www.ikea.com/us/en/ideas/our-takes-on-icelandic-inspired-style-pub8c2ce691. Accessed 26 Sept. 2021.
Circular economy:
“The Future of Furniture Is Circular.” Ikea.com, 2020, about.ikea.com/en/sustainability/a-world-without-waste/why-the-future-of-furniture-is-circular. Accessed 26 Sept. 2021.
Frame materials:
James. “Pine Wood Properties | Types of Pine Trees and Uses.” Timber Blogger, 20 Apr. 2021, www.timberblogger.com/pine-wood/. Accessed 25 Sept. 2021.
Hughes, Amy R. “The Pros and Cons of Different Types of Wood for Furniture.” Real Simple, Real Simple, 5 Mar. 2014, www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/decorating/different-types-wood. Accessed 25 Sept. 2021.
Vermont Woods Studios. “Vermont Woods Studios.” Vermontwoodsstudios.com, 2021, vermontwoodsstudios.com/content/oak-wood. Accessed 25 Sept. 2021.
“Properties of Thermoplastics for Furniture SMEs and Designers.” Furniturelinkca.com, 2020, www.furniturelinkca.com/plastics.htm#:~:text=Two%20thermoplastics%20commonly%20used%20in,resoften%20with%20heat%20once%20formed.. Accessed 25 Sept. 2021.
FrancesHuntBedroomLivingRoomFurniture. “Understanding the Different Types of Furniture Materials.” Frances Hunt Furniture News Blog, 3 Mar. 2017, www.franceshunt.co.uk/news/2017/03/understanding-different-types-of-furniture-materials/. Accessed 26 Sept. 2021.
Textiles:
“Best Fabrics for Sofas | the Inside.” Theinside.com, 2021, www.theinside.com/blog/best-fabrics-for-sofas/. Accessed 26 Sept. 2021.
Analyzing existing products:
“EKENÄSET Armchair - Hillared Anthracite.” IKEA, 2021, www.ikea.com/sg/en/p/ekenaeset-armchair-hillared-anthracite-30453028/. Accessed 21 Sept. 2021.
“POÄNG Armchair - Brown/Knisa Light Beige.” IKEA, 2021, www.ikea.com/sg/en/p/poaeng-armchair-brown-knisa-light-beige-s09240798/. Accessed 21 Sept. 2021.
“311.93SG$ 25% OFF|Modern Design Rocking Lounge Chair Leather and Wood for Home Furniture Living Room Adult Luxury Rocking Chair Chaise Design|Lounge Chair Leather|Rocking Chairdesign Lounge Chair - AliExpress.” Aliexpress.com, 2021, www.aliexpress.com/item/32694590299.html. Accessed 21 Sept. 2021.
“Insun Lazy Chair Real Rattan Lounge Chair Balcony Outdoor Sofa Furniture - Buy Child Chair,Indoor Mindi Wood Furniture,Cheap Home Furniture Product on Alibaba.com.” Alibaba.com, 2020, www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Insun-Lazy-Chair-Real-Rattan-Lounge_1600235891577.html. Accessed 21 Sept. 2021.
“356.81SG$ |LUE BONA Leather Woven Patio Chair for Leisure Indoor Wooden Recliner Accent Sofa Modern Wood Furniture for Garden Living Room|Living Room Chairs| - AliExpress.” Aliexpress.com, 2021, www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003129101060.html. Accessed 21 Sept. 2021.
Critical analysis:
Budds, Diana. “Poäng: The Little-Known History of Ikea’s Most Famous Chair.” Fast Company, Fast Company, Sept. 2016, www.fastcompany.com/3063312/poaeng-the-little-known-history-of-ikeas-most-famous-chair. Accessed 26 Sept. 2021.
Hadley Keller. “The 13 Most Popular IKEA Products.” Architectural Digest, Architectural Digest, 28 June 2017, www.architecturaldigest.com/story/13-most-popular-ikea-products. Accessed 26 Sept. 2021.
“Buy Chairs & Footstools Online - POÄNG Series.” IKEA, 2021, www.ikea.com/sg/en/cat/poaeng-series-07472/. Accessed 26 Sept. 2021.