IKEA’s PS collection, the tenth installment of its experimental line, showcases a blend of playfulness and practicality as the brand prepares to unveil the full range on May 13 at the Democratic Design Days in Älmhult, Sweden.
Air‑filled easy chair rethinks comfort
Designed by in‑house designer Mikael Axelsson, the new easy chair relies on air rather than traditional foam. Axelsson tested roughly 20 prototypes, even experimenting with a tractor tyre, before settling on a system of two adjustable air chambers encased in a chrome‑finished tubular frame. The result is a stable, compact silhouette that can be packed flat.
The chair ships in a deep emerald‑green fabric cover and includes a foot pump for inflation. “IKEA is all about democratising design, and in that way, air is the perfect material to work with,” Axelsson said. “You minimise the amount of material, and we can ship it flat.”
Flat‑packing remains a core IKEA value, allowing the product to reach a broad audience while keeping transport costs low. The use of air also aligns with the collection’s theme of playful functionality, inviting users to engage with the piece as they inflate and adjust it.
Rocking bench balances fun and utility
Solid‑pine rocking bench creator Marta Krupińska describes the piece as “playful functionality in its purest form.” The bench rocks gently from side to side, yet it also serves as a conventional seating option. Its natural pine finish preserves the wood’s character, reinforcing the brand’s Scandinavian roots.
Krupińska noted that early testers couldn’t resist the urge to share the experience: “From the first prototype, I noticed people couldn’t help themselves. They’d sit down, start rocking, then call someone over to try it.” The design aims to keep furniture approachable, avoiding the seriousness often associated with high‑end pieces.
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Both the chair and bench embody IKEA’s long‑standing goal of making progressive design accessible, a mission first articulated when the PS line launched in 1995 to challenge the exclusivity of the design world.
Three‑directional lamp offers adjustable ambience
Rotterdam‑based designer Lex Pott turned a steel cylinder into a versatile floor lamp by cutting it at a 45‑degree angle and allowing the sections to rotate. The lamp can serve as a spotlight, a reading light, or an uplight depending on the angle of the angled intersections.
The patented design features a trumpet‑shaped shade and a slim metal stem rising from a wide cone‑shaped base. It is available in chartreuse yellow, deep burgundy, and cobalt blue. “We reduced the design to its clearest possible form, and the function doesn’t reveal itself at first glance – but that’s where the joy and playfulness live,” Pott explained. “There are layers that reveal themselves slowly, and an emotional bond that grows the more you live with it.”
Upcoming reveal and design ethos
The full collection will be presented at the Democratic Design Days event on 13 May, where all pieces were designed and developed. The showcase aims to demonstrate how experimental ideas can transition from prototype to retail without sacrificing the affordability that defines IKEA’s market position.
By centering the collection around “playful functionality,” IKEA continues a three‑decade tradition of pushing design boundaries while maintaining its reputation for cost‑effective, flat‑pack solutions.
