Visiting the IKEA booth at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York felt like exploring different cultures and continents until the little price tags with the IKEA logo gave it away. That’s when I realized that the designs were part of IKEA’s 2009 PS collection with the theme that each design piece tells a story.
The new IKEA PS collection combines good design, affordability and sustainability. It includes 71 pieces by 20 designers that will be available on August 1st in the US. The collection was originally founded in 1995 to strengthen the company’s focus on design. It’s great to see that sustainability made its way into the design mix. From a sustainable point of view I applaud IKEA for teaming up with UNICEF to create the IKEA PS collection wall hangings to benefit women and children in India. Or I love how the designer Maria Vinka combines banana fibers, seagrass, cotton and steal to create her IKEA PS HÄLLAR stool that looks like a 3-D map of a mountain range. But since I’m a big fan of modern eco-design I was especially smitten by the IKEA PS VÄVA pendant lamp made out of palm leaves and powder coated steel designed by Wiebke Braasch and the IKEA PS MASKROS pendant lamp made out of paper and steel designed by Marcus Arvonen. Both designs are visually inspired by nature. The IKEA PS MASKROS resembles a dandelion. You have to put it together yourself since it arrives flat packed to reduce fuel consumption. Assembling your own furniture never felt better.
Have always loved just visiting Ikea as I'm always inspired by what they offer. I've only bought one or two things, but I love their playful spirit, use of color and designs. Happy to see they are moving more toward sustainability.
Posted by: Lynn | May 31, 2009 at 12:39 PM