At its annual Democratic Design Days in Älmhult, IKEA introduced a new collaboration with Swedish designers Gustaf Westman and Evelina Kroon, focused on reimagining how we celebrate. The partnership explores the emotional value of gathering, centering on three distinct moods that reflect different approaches to meaningful moments, traditional, expressive, and nostalgic.
FURNITURE
The first mood looks to IKEA’s own design heritage and more conventional rituals. It offers a sense of continuity through forms and materials that speak to shared memories and seasonal traditions, bringing comfort through familiarity.
In contrast, Gustaf Westman introduces a younger, more playful lens. Known for his fluid forms and bright, sculptural pieces, he proposes a more spontaneous way of celebrating, where gathering is less about occasion and more about connection. “This is my interpretation of holidays, it’s a new design for a new generation,” says Westman. “What remains the same is getting together with friends and family, however you define them.”
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Evelina Kroon’s perspective completes the triad with a collection rooted in memory and scale. Drawing from her childhood experiences of the holidays, she reinvents classic rituals through unexpected proportions and graphic compositions. “The collection is nostalgic for me,” she shares. “Through these creations, I know I can carry those memories with me into the future.”
The project reflects IKEA’s broader interest in how design can respond to contemporary living. As Magdalena Walther, Product Developer at IKEA of Sweden, explains, “Their combined perspectives let us explore new ways of coming together, less formal, yet full of style, warmth, and the spirit of gathering.”
Set to launch in 2025, the collection speaks to evolving rituals, chosen families, and joy found in everyday moments. By bringing together Westman’s playful expressiveness and Kroon’s reflective nostalgia, IKEA continues its push toward design that resonates emotionally while remaining accessible and functional.
