"Ikea introduces vibrant designs into households: a look at their strategy for making bold patterns accessible to the general public"
In the world of home furnishings, Ikea is synonymous with flat-pack furniture and affordable design. But did you know that Ikea's textiles have also made a significant impact, shaping interiors and revolutionising the industry?
The new exhibition at Edinburgh's Dovecot Gallery, titled 'Ikea: Magical Patterns', delves into this fascinating aspect of Ikea's history. The exhibition showcases 180 textile designs that have helped define Ikea's visual DNA.
Ikea's textile journey began modestly in the 1940s and 50s, with muted and predictable designs. However, a pivotal move in the early 1960s saw Ikea add colour to its textiles, marking the beginning of a bold new era.
One of the key figures in this transformation was Inez Svensson, a textile artist who was one of the most influential figures of the period. Svensson led a shift towards geometric patterns in Ikea's textiles and co-founded the design collective 10-Gruppen, which challenged the dominance of dainty florals and introduced bold, youthful patterns.
Svensson's designs, such as 'Randig Banan'—a striped banana print introduced in 1985 and returned in 2013—are still iconic today. Other notable motifs introduced by Sven Fristedt, who joined Ikea in 1967, include 'Myrten', 'Tarantella', 'Sommargyllen', and 'Alfi'.
The exhibition also highlights the creative freedom given to young, mostly female designers from art schools and industrial backgrounds. Designers like Ida Pettersson Preutz, who was given creative freedom to create a pattern based on food, resulting in the 'Anniken' print, and Anna-Lena Emdén, who introduced humour and narrative to Ikea's children's prints in the 1970s, are celebrated in the exhibition.
Ikea's approach to pattern design is rooted in its philosophy of accessibility, making bold taste accessible to ordinary people. This commitment to democratising design can be seen in the modernisation and democratisation of home interiors that Ikea's textiles helped bring about.
The success of Ikea's textile designs in the 1960s and 1970s paved the way for future generations of designers. Patterns like 'Randig Banan' and other children's prints showcased humor and imagination, influencing how homes were perceived and decorated.
Today, Ikea operates in 63 countries and remains a global symbol of bold, functional, and democratic design. The exhibition, which runs until 17 January 2026 at Dovecot Gallery in Edinburgh, is a testament to Ikea's enduring impact on the world of home furnishings.
Even in recent years, Ikea's 80th anniversary Nytillverkad collection, introduced in 2023, included 'Svedjenäva' (based on 'Alfi') and 'Nickfibbla' (based on 'Strix' and 'Strax'). Anna Sörensson's 'Stockholm' pattern, introduced in 2006, remains popular today, demonstrating the lasting relevance of Ikea's textile designs.
In conclusion, Ikea's textile designs have played a crucial role in shaping the brand's visual identity and contributing to the modernisation of home interiors. By combining innovative materials, bold patterns, and a focus on sustainability, Ikea set itself apart as a leader in home furnishings.
The 'Ikea: Magical Patterns' exhibition at Edinburgh's Dovecot Gallery showcases the brand's impact in the fashion-and-beauty sphere, as bold patterns and colors introduced in Ikea's textiles have transitioned from home-and-garden design to influencing fashion trends. The exhibition also highlights Ikea's continued innovation in technology, with recent collaborations in producing eco-friendly and sustainable textiles.
