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Eff and Andersson are two of twelve products designed by our Product Design students and currently on display at Stockholm Furniture Fair. The inspiration was found in modern architecture and graffiti.
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The balcony module Eff and the sofa in rattan, Andersson, are two of twelve in the project New Way Out , a project in which life outdoors has been the focus and which has been conducted with the support and sponsorship by IKEA. The designers behind the products are Sara Sjöbäck and Isa Andersson who are both studying their final-year in Product Design.
Outdoor standards have been explored
Sara has explored the possibilities of the small balcony. The challenge was to really use the space rather than "just" putting something nice there.
"To think 'NEW WAY OUT' has really made me twist and turn the outdoor standards. More and more people live in small spaces in cities and the balcony is seldom utilized as it could be. I wanted to create a sense of space on the balcony, a kind of module and I was inspired by modern architecture and spatial features of nature. The EFF has a bent rack with a balcony box, folding table and a solar lamp. The rack is hooked into the balcony railing, or put together one and one out in the garden to create a vault. With the EFF you can screen off a space outdoors during the day and create your own personal space," she says.
She has also chosen to highlight in the "IKEA-ian smart function-way" of thinking in her product Eff. An example of this is the simple solar lamp.
-"A smart piece of furniture that offers a roof should of course have a solar LED lamp that utilizes the position", says Sara
Andersson - a three-dimensional tag
Isa, in turn, was inspired by how you work in rattan, how you bend, braid, and bend again and how the finished material almost becomes a braided rug telling a story in its pattern. But also graffiti with its tags inspired her.
"A tag is your personal name, abbreviation or a group's signature. It is the sketchy handwriting and the speed that it is written with that inspired me. Secondly, it is interesting in connection with IKEA's fast-producing production but also in connection with my concept that is to be mobile and flexible," says Isa.
The feeling itself when writing your signature is central to graffiti, there should be a good flow and composition.
"But it is also about "being your brand". Ivar, Billy and Karlstad are product names of IKEA creating personality and origin. Andersson is a loveseat in rattan, and my three-dimensional tag that fits in every room", says Isa.
A design excercise that gave insight into the industry
The project is a design exercise in which the students have gained access to IKEA's large prototype workshop.
"We've had a fairly tight collaboration with the workshop and have been able to be involved in the process in Älmhult. Being there in the workshop has also provided a tremendous insight into IKEA, and how the industry works," says Sara.
But to give up the production itself can also convey a sense of powerlessness. In the project drawings, description, sketches and models were sent to the factory, which then has to interpret them.
"I've learned the importance of being clear (too obvious) in
everything you communicate when you yourself are not responsible for the
production on location," says Isa.
View and read about the other 12 products produced in the project New Way Out.
