LIMITED IKEA COLLECTION: BRÅKIG 2014

Creative collaboration: BRÅKIG 2014
‘We were already familiar with ArtRebels’ playful, colourful style, so when we were choosing a partner for this new collaboration, they were an obvious choice,’ explains Karin Gustavsson, Range Strategist at IKEA. ‘We wanted to create a collection with a fresh attitude, for people moving into their first home or wanting to update their current space. We worked together to create new products in a short time-frame, and upcycled existing IKEA products.’

‘I love the graphic wallpaper. There’s no glue on the back so you can use it on walls or furniture’

Karin

Carla Cammilla Hjort, founder of ArtRebels, says:
‘We received a call from Sweden telling us that design manager Marcus Engman and other IKEA leaders were meeting in Copenhagen for an inspirational workshop – and would we like to join? We’d talked about the idea of working with IKEA before, so it was exciting – and of course we said yes!’

‘I love this chair, it’s cool and colourful. I also like anything with a harlequin pattern – it features a lot in our work’

Carla

Behind-the-scenes of the BRÅKIG collection
See how the products made it to store: from the background research and inspiration to making the prototypes. 

Inspiration: getting started on the project
‘Two weeks after the first workshop, we signed the contract,’ says Carla. ‘We found it very exciting as it’s unusual for the process to happen so fast when you’re working with a big client! We organised two design teams for the project – a group of five from IKEA and five from ArtRebels – and met up for another brainstorm in Copenhagen.’

Developing the designs: from ideas to reality
‘The teams met in Sweden to refine our ideas and pick the final direction for the collection,’ says Carla. ‘We had carpenters and builders to make up prototypes straight away, so it was really quick.’ ‘The concept was to create the entire collection within one year – which is how it works in fashion,’ adds Karin. ‘And that’s how long it took – for the furniture, textiles, lighting and porcelain.’

The final products: in store from February
‘The pieces in the range are smart, functional designs with a distinctly Danish feel. They provide an antidote to Scandinavia’s long, dark winter,’ says Karin. ‘There are lots of pastel colours and light woods. These are happy pieces to brighten the mood!’ ‘One of my favourite things is that we’ve updated small elements, but with a big impact,’ says Carla. ‘Like changing the legs of the trestle table to copper and making the tabletop thinner. It’s now lighter and sleeker – it works just as well either as a dining table or desk.’

Something special
‘With a limited-edition collection you know it will be unique! It’s fun, simple fashion,’ says Karin.