IKEA brings three day design festival to Australia for the first time

Australians will be given a preview of never-before-seen IKEA collections

New hero

Australians will be given a preview of never-before-seen IKEA collections, including collaborations with style icons Virgil Abloh and Colette, as well as the opportunity to hear from globally renowned designers, like IKEA Head of Design Marcus Engman, in the first-ever Australian Democratic Design Days set to be held in Sydney from 27 – 29 August 2018.

Heralding from the hometown of IKEA in Almhult, Sweden, Democratic Design Days will take Sydneysiders behind the scenes of the world’s biggest furniture retailer. The festival will explore the future of IKEA and future of life at home for Australians.

Kicking the week off, IKEA Head of Design Marcus Engman is flying in from Sweden to share the secrets behind the iconic company’s success and world-first IKEA news exclusive to the Aussie audience.

Speaking about the event, Engman said, “Democratic design is more than a catchphrase, it influences every step of the design process. Democratic Design is the backbone of IKEA, its heart and soul. It’s our tool to fulfil our vision – to create a better everyday life for the many people”.

Across the week, IKEA will be previewing the most anticipated new collections of the upcoming year, including MAKARED by Virgil Abloh; SYMFONISK, a collaboration with sound company SONOS; DELAKTIG 2.0, the second chapter from Tom Dixon; and FORYNAD, a collection from French retailer Colette and Australian artist Craig Redman.

Democratic Design Days will offer unique experiences for guests, catering to a range of interests from design and art to music and gaming.

Fresh from Democratic Design Days in Sweden, the Sydney event will showcase the first gaming chair prototype from the newly announced collaboration with UNYQ, daring revolutioniser of 3D printed medical wearables, and educational e-sport company Area Academy. Tapping into the growing popularity of gaming, the collaboration is centred around ergonomics and comfort for gamers.

More than just a meatball restaurant

Across the three nights and in an Australian-first, IKEA will bring a taste of Sweden to Sydney with the social enterprise meatball restaurant – The Meatball Social.

Inspired by the meatball restaurant at the IKEA Museum in Almhult, Sweden, The Meatball Social will put a new spin on the traditional meatball meal. Not only will guests enjoy an array of meatball dishes from around the world, all proceeds will go to hunger relief organisation Foodbank. Consumers will need to book online where they can choose how big or small their donation to be.

Big ideas: talks and workshops

Punters will have access to insightful and thought-provoking panels, discussion and forums exploring the future of life at homes in Australia, the retail industry, careers and food.

Throughout the event, IKEA will be bringing world leading thinkers to the stage to challenge ideas and concepts and push the boundaries of what makes a home.

These include, IKEA Head of Design Marcus Engman (SWE), IKEA Designer Andreas Fredriksson (SWE), founder of Area Academy Tommy Ingemarsson (SWE), founder of UNYQ (SWE) Eythor Bender and celebrity chef Matt Preston (AU).

Some speakers will make world-first announcements throughout the days.

Highlights from the IKEA Democratic Design Days Australia is as follows with more program details to be release in the coming month:

IKEA AUSTRALIA DEMOCRATIC DESIGN DAY – PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:

Marcus Engman, Keynote – What is Democratic Design?

9:30 – 10:30AM, Monday 27 August 2018

Speakers: IKEA Head of Design, Marcus Engman (SWE)

Marcus Engman leads IKEA into a new era of design and collaboration, centred around unparalleled knowledge of the diverse ways of life at home across the world.  Join Marcus as he discusses the evolution of design across the 75-year history of IKEA, how IKEA transforms insight into products and solutions for homes internationally and delves into the future of one of the leaders in home furnishings globally with a world-first announcement.

Smart Home Talk: Future Homes – Smarter, flexible and inspired by the sense

10:00 – 11:00AM, Tuesday 28 August 2018

Speakers: IKEA Head of Design, Marcus Engman (SWE), IKEA Australia Head of Interior Design, Tiffany Buckins (AU), UTS Professor for Spatial Theory and Director of Interior Architecture, Thea Brejzek (AU), IKEA Designer Andreas Fredriksson (SWE), Gizmodo Australia Deputy Editor, Tegan Jones (AU)

The feeling of home is defined by more than just physical location – it’s a layered experience of all the five senses that create our sense of belonging, comfort and happiness.  IKEA brings together a diverse panel of thought leaders across technology, design and research to explore and discuss how our homes will evolve with smart technology, the impact of urbanisation and the emotional and physical needs that shape the future of home design.

Game Night Out

6:30 – 8:30PM, Tuesday 28 August 2018

Special guests include founder of Area Academy Tommy Ingemarsson (SWE)

Settle in for a night of gaming the IKEA way and unleash your friendly competitive spirit alongside Area Academy’s Founder and eSports entrepreneur, Tommy Ingemarsson and special gaming guests.  Battle it out one-on-one with a quick Counter-Strike match with friends or foes or get moving with a round of Dance Off! Just Dance. Guests will get an IKEA cocktail on arrival along with a trial of the Australia exclusive kangaroo meatball.

IKEA Unwind

6:00 – 9:00 PM, Wednesday 29 August

Beat the mid-week blues with IKEA for a relaxing evening alongside the harbour with beats by DJ KLP.  IKEA will be serving a complimentary Swedish-inspired IKEA cocktail as well as the Australia exclusive kangaroo meatball and veggie balls.  Join us as we round-off the end of Democratic Design Days in Australia in a way that only Sydney can.

Donate by Plate – IKEA Social Enterprise Meatball Restaurant

Monday 27 – Wednesday 29 August, two sessions running from 6 – 7:30PM and 7:45-9:15PM each night.

Modelled after the IKEA Museum meatball restaurant in IKEA’s hometown, Almhult, Sweden, the Donate by Plate pop-up will put a new spin on the iconic meatball meal across three spectacular nights, with all proceeds donated to Foodbank.  Guests can select from classic Swedish meatballs, chicken meatballs, veggie balls, as well as the Australia-exclusive kangaroo meatball.