IKEA Releases New Wave of Collection from the 60’s and 70’s

December 13, 2023  by HFBusiness Staff in Business Strategy, Designer Weekly, Industry   

With the Nytillverkad collection, IKEA is proud to bring back iconic pieces reimagined in new colours and materials to fit the needs and dreams of today. The third edition of the collection takes inspiration from a time when youth culture, pop music, and political protests were shaping the world.

At that time, IKEA introduced new materials such as painted particleboard and plastic to create furniture with a youthful expression. Bold shapes, optimistic colours, comfortable seating, soft high pile rugs characterized the furnishing style of the time, and this new edition of Nytillverkad is launched to let design enthusiasts revisit those days.

Karin Mobring was the first female IKEA designer who has made a significant impact on IKEA style. In 1964, after Ingvar Kamprad spotted a wooden armchair designed by Karin at the Stockholm Furniture Fair, she was hired to join the IKEA design team. 

By the 1970s Karin was regarded as one of IKEA’s most productive and trendsetting designers. Rooted in classic, rural Scandinavian style, Karin was also a very versatile designer, who developed around one hundred IKEA products. The CROMI side table, one of her iconic pieces, is relaunched in the new Nytillverkad collection as BAGGBODA side table with a white or light-yellow tabletop and a chrome-plated frame.

Gillis Lundgren, who joined IKEA in 1954, was a visionary designer bursting with ideas and enthusiasm. He worked closely with Ingvar Kamprad in steering IKEA to where it is today. Gillis helped develop the IKEA logotype, illustrated catalogue covers, photographed the products, and worked as a furniture designer. One of his iconic pieces was the MILA armchair, now reimagined as the DYVLINGE swivel armchair. The spacious PUCK armchair from 1969 is also making a comeback, named as SOTENÄS.

Contemporary Swedish designers Sven Fristedt and Ehlén Johansson also played a key role in shaping the collection. Some of eye-catching patterns designed by Sven Fristedt in 60s and 70s are making a comeback on STRECKFLY cushion covers and ÄNGSFIBBLA pre-cut fabric.

Ehlén Johansson, one of Sweden's most prominent designers and winner of The Red Dot Design Award, designed the SKOGSTUNDRA vase, a sleek and subtle piece with a high neck to support cut flowers.

“Vintage furniture has made a big comeback lately, and there's been a growing demand for certain IKEA products that have become collectors' favourites. That is why we decided to bring back a selection of our design icons, and we are excited to see interest coming from customers of all ages, especially young people who are discovering our design legacy and using these vibrant solutions to express themselves at home.”

“To us, these products are the essence of democratic design: they are timeless, as they combine a beautiful form, a great function, sustainability, an affordable price, and quality that lasts long,” says Johan Ejdemo, global design manager, IKEA of Sweden.