Ikea Teams Up With African Artists For The 2019 Flagship Collection
IKEA has realized that black is beautiful!
Swedish furniture superstore, IKEA, announced that they are collaborating with the African based Design Indaba Group to feature a new collection influenced by African designers and architects, according to CNN Style.
Head designer at IKEA, Marcus Engman stated, "The creative explosion which is taking place in several cities around Africa right now is something IKEA is curious about. We want to learn from this and spread it to the rest of the world."
The entire collaboration happened by chance when Engman met the founder of the Design Indaba, Ravi Naidoo at the respective conference being held to showcase African talent. It is reported that the two discussed ideas and Naidoo gave Engman a list of talent from various places across the continent. The designers were then invited to a brainstorming session at the IKEA headquarters in Sweden.
Since that meeting, the African designers, including names like Christian Benimana and Selly Raby Kane, have been working on pieces for the collection, collaborating with IKEA designers, checking in ever so often via Skype sessions.
Everything will come full circle at the 22nd Design Indaba Conference in Cape Town, where the first models are to be put on display.
Though it seems like IKEA is jumping on the idea that Africa is in “style”, many creatives believe that this is a partnership that will showcase Africa and what the continent has to offer.
"The whole world needs a bit of Africa," says Naidoo, “the African aesthetic is not terribly visible in homes around the world. He feels that African design has an “alternate way of looking at the world.”
Ivorian architect, Issa Diabete stated, “Japanese minimalism once inspired a lot of design projects and the philosophy permeated the design community. Certain approaches in many urban African environments could benefit…the international world of design.”
Because IKEA has over 300 stores worldwide, with many more opening in the next few years, it is an excellent platform to show Africa to the world.
The final collection will have about 40 pieces. The process of narrowing down items is currently taking place. "Right now we have far too many ideas," says Engman. "We are on everything from colorful padlocks…from textiles to pieces of furniture."
The collection is due to hit stores in 2019.
