Reflecting on the work of :

Who is this innovator?Ingvar Kamprad - Founder of IKEA Clue 1 - Pioneered flat-pack design furniture at affordable prices.Clue 2 - The worlds largest furniture manufacturer

What do you understand by the term flat-pack furniture?Flat Pack furniture has not been assembled. Customers assemble the item of furniture in their home.What are the advantages and disadvantages of flat pack furniture?

IKEA history how it all beganThe IKEA story begins in 1926 when founder Ingvar Kamprad is born in Smland in southern Sweden. He grew up on Elmtaryd, a farm near the small village of Agunnaryd. Even as a boy Ingvar knew he wanted to develop a business.Over six decades IKEA went from the woods of southern Sweden to being a major retail experience in 40 countries/territories around the world.

1920sAt the age of five Ingvar Kamprad starts selling matches to neighbours.A few years later he expands to selling flower seeds, greeting cards, Christmas tree decorations, and later pencils and ball-point pens. IKEA Timeline

Ingvar Kamprad develops IKEA into a furniture retail company.During this period a lot of testing and trailing of furniture design, self assembly, advertising, the use of a catalogue and a showroom to reach the mass market. 1940 -1950s1956 - Flat pack and self-assembly is introduced. The legs of the LOVET table were removed so it would fit in a car. Since this flat pack and self assembly are part of the IKEA design concept.

Design classics are developed such as PONG, OGLA, SKOPE and BILLY bookcase. 1960 -1970sSKOPA PONGOGLA a product that show IKEA design concepts of form, function and competitive pricing. The chair is now made of composite plastic can you think of advantages this?

1960 -1970sBILLY bookcaseIKEA begins to quality testing its productsContinuing good design at affordable prices

Stores open USA, Italy, France UK.LACK shelveKLIPPAN sofa 1980s

More IKEA classics arrive such as KLIPPAN, LACK and MOMENTLACK table using a sandwich technique called board-on-frame.

Childrens IKEA is introduced and the focus is on furniture solutions to meet the needs of families with children. 1990sFirst PS collection. PS stands for Post Scriptum latest addition to the IKEA design values form and function at a low price. PS products gives designers the opportunity to design products that are fun, emotional and less predicable, appealing to people who look for individuality in a product, MAMMUTfun coordination creativity encourage : social skills

IKEA expands into even more markets such as Japan and Russia. 1990s

This period also sees the successes of several partnerships regarding social and environmental projects. 1990sTask visit the IKEA website for more information related to the numerous environment or social projects supported by the company. http://ikeafamilyforest.co.uk/