Header: Courtesy of Ingka Group
IKEA has introduced its newest exhibition, “1st“, an emotional journey exploring the many feelings involved in decorating one’s first home. Padiglione Visconti, the 1244-square-metre venue where over seventy-seven thousand people joined the IKEA exhibition during Milan Design Week 2023, was the place chosen by IKEA to share its vision.
“1st” was designed by architect Midori Hasuike, spatial designer Emerzon, and lighting designer Anders Heberling, all of them longtime partners of IKEA. The exhibition takes into consideration the differences in every one of us, showing, however, that we share similar ways of dealing with finally getting our very first personal space.
A packed agenda
IKEA didn’t shy away from a busy week, hosting a series of talks with industry leaders about design and its role in society. Mark Wilson, Global Design Editor from Fast Company, will be the host at the IKEA venue, covering “What’s next for IKEA?” with Ingka Group CEO, Jesper Brodin; “Does good design exist?” with speakers from Google, Mattel, and Neri&Hu; “How design will heal us” with speakers from RISD, FuseProject, and Samsung; and “Can we make sustainability for the 99%?” with speakers from IKEA, What Design Can Do, and Marimekko. All talks are public and rich in information, these are great food for thought to dwell on while enjoying IKEA’s “1st” installation.
Additions and upgrades
This year, IKEA has also unveiled the new gaming collection BRÄNBOLL, the latest Nytillverkad launch, and a sneak peek of Tyg, an upcoming collection of pre-cut fabrics that will enjoy an exclusive pre-sale at Milan Design Week. The BRÄNNBOLL collection is inspired by gamers, their needs, and the needs of those who live with them. The updated Nytillverkad collection offers a reimagined KLIPPAN sofa and the POÄNG armchair to the world, two fans’ favourites from IKEA designer Noboru Nakamura. IKEA hasn’t forgotten its Scandinavian design identity, as both collections rock a vibrant colour palette that is sure to enhance daily lives.
“We’re excited to present the results of our exploration into new areas of the home, which are driven by the rising interest in our treasure chest of designs from our past as well as the dynamic world of gaming. As always, we are driven by our curiosity about people’s lives, needs, and dreams at home, and we capture what matters in our designs. We aim to create new solutions that resonate with the values we as a brand share with many people and respond to the needs of the ever-evolving lives at home.”
Johan Ejdemo, Global Design Manager at IKEA of Sweden.
About “CATALOGUE!!!”
Jefferson Hack, founder and CEO of Dazed magazine, was also present at the IKEA talks, joining Ingka Group Creative Director Marcus Engman to talk about “CATALOGUE!!!“, a collaboration between Dazed Studio and IKEA for “1st”. The result is a 30-page physical posterzine exploring how young people around the world live today.
Dazed Studio dove into IKEA’s archives, searching for the most iconic editorial images from the early 2000s. Dazed Studio left the research excited and inspired, ending up creating a bible of the different ways young people deal with moving out and decorating their own space in their image. Some of the well-known artists and photographers featured in the posterzine are Imruh Asha, Daisuke, Andrew Miksys, Angèle Ch Tenet, Erika Kamano, Anton Gottlob, and Taito Itateyama.
The catalogue includes several collaborations with some of the most interesting minds nowadays, like talks on the relationship between food and the home with Riaz Philips, thought pieces about the pursuit of identity with young creatives from London and New York, and the intimate discussion on special objects in the homes of six creatives from around the world. The idea of home is reinvented in CATALOGUE!!! through objects and how the resident fits into the decoration style, making for an interesting read and providing some solace to people who feel overwhelmed with the task of dressing up their first home.
Investing in the future
Students from the Master programme at Istituto Marangoni – The School of Design in Digital Design for Immersive Experiences and the Master in Digital Art Direction, developed in collaboration with M&C SAATCHI Europe, have been invited to collaborate with IKEA for Milan Design Week. Paired with mentors and IKEA to design creative responses to the question “How do you imagine your first home?”, visitors will be impressed with how young minds work, giving the exhibition a unique, genuine feel.
At night, the venue transforms into a destination for music lovers. Here, visitors can enjoy music while also being close to the exhibition, which ends up creating a positive association between the two. To give back to the community, IKEA has paired up with Italian music crews including Burro Studio, Akeem, Ciao Discoteca Italiana, Threes Production, and Slipmode to put a spotlight on artists from the local music scene.