It's always fun when the designers at IKEA get to flex their muscles with a creative collaboration. Recent joint ventures have included projects with Virgil Abloh, Teenage Engineering and Ilse Crawford. This the Överallt collection has been described by the brand as "African rituals meet Scandi", and features products by creatives from five African countries, including Sengalese fashion designer Selly Raby Kane, South African textile designer Laduma Ngxokolo and Kenyan design office Studio Propolis.
The project is the result of a partnership with Design Indaba and launched at that organisation's conference in Cape Town. The members of Design Indaba were given the difficult task of choosing the designers that would be involved. Founder Ravi Naidoo noted that they did not only consider designers who traditionally create furniture, but instead focused on "good thinkers".
The project is the result of a partnership with Design Indaba and launched at that organisation's conference in Cape Town. The members of Design Indaba were given the difficult task of choosing the designers that would be involved. Founder Ravi Naidoo noted that they did not only consider designers who traditionally create furniture, but instead focused on "good thinkers".
"We just went across and found people who are really getting out there, taking risks and expressing themselves, and who represented the best of the African creative garde." - Ravi Naidoo, Founder, Design Indaba
Laduma Ngxokolo contributed rugs featuring the geometric patterns that adorn his celebrated knitwear. Selly Raby Kane designed a basket, available in two sizes, that is made from fibre designed to look like braided hair. Issa Diabaté, an architect and designer from the Ivory Coast, created a simple chair made using only a single sheet of plywood that is designed to be tailored to its user's needs. Made using a jigsaw and without costly materials, sophisticated technology, nails, glue or screws, the chair is both beautiful and functional.
Studio Propolis, led by designers Naeem Biviji and Bethan Rayner, created a range of products designed for flexible cooking and dining including a stool and a bench that can be grouped or used independently, a cast iron dish with a lid that doubles as a skillet, and a trio of cork pot stands. Egypt-based Reform Studio created their products, which include jute rugs and tote bags, using difficult to recycle crisps packets. The recycled material creates a lustrous, metallic material.
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| IKEA |
IKEA hopes the project will show the world that there is an explosion of creativity coming out of Africa at the moment. The products are set to launch in stores worldwide this year.
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