From the Series
Within the gambit of things Design Indaba prides itself on doing lies connection. An opportune moment for just that came when IKEA stepped into the realm of unique and multifaceted African design two years ago.
The result is the limited-edition collection ÖVERALLT, which was launched today at the place where it all started – Design Indaba Festival in Cape Town.
Creativity on the African continent is hard to pin down to a single type, style or moment. Some attribute it to the explosion of Afrofuturism in the global creative scene, others see it simply as design in its purest, uninhibited form.
IKEA approached Design Indaba to learn more about the creative doers in several cities across Africa. Design Indaba chose ten designers, all connected to Design Indaba and its network. They were then teamed up with five IKEA designers to create a truly distinct IKEA range.
Major pacemakers in African design such as; Issa Diabaté, Selly Raby Kane, Naeem Biviji and Bethan Rayner, Bibi Seck, Mariam Hazem and Hend Riad, Renee Rossouw, Sindiso Khumalo and Laduma Ngxokolo were chosen to represent this burgeoning industry.
Together with IKEA designers Mikael Axelsson, Ina Vuorivirta, Kevin Gouriou, Johanna Jelinek and Hanna Dalrot, they started to explore modern urban rituals - think socialising around food, living, both indoor and outdoor, identity and sustainability.
The design and development process they undertook has resulted in a collection of products that are all about building bridges and discovering the “urban living room” together with others.
“With ÖVERALLT, we want to encourage and trigger people to come together and eat, share stories, be creative and spend time with one another. And, thanks to the merging of creatives and all the good discussions we’ve had along the way, each design has a way of supporting that. ÖVERALLT is like a palette of socializing tools,” says James Futcher, Creative Leader at IKEA.
The collection, which will be available in all IKEA markets in May 2019, includes larger pieces of furniture, tableware, textiles, and a sustainable tote bag, amongst others.
The collection is currently on display for the first time ever during Design Indaba Festival in Cape Town until 1 March 2019. The majority of the ÖVERALLT designers are present at the elaborate exhibition and a makers-lab has been set up.
