At this year’s Democratic Design Days in Älmhult, IKEA unveiled a new collaboration with Swedish creatives Gustaf Westman and Evelina Kroon. With a focus on how people celebrate today, and how they might gather tomorrow, the announcement brings fresh creative energy into IKEA’s ongoing exploration of design, community, and emotional connection.
The collaboration introduces three creative approaches to celebration, each grounded in emotion, memory, and modern lifestyles. IKEA’s internal team leads the first, taking cues from familiar traditions and its own design archive to revisit rituals that remain central in many households today. The focus here is on continuity, seasonal patterns, warm materials, and objects that evoke generational stories.
Gustaf Westman’s contribution, by contrast, breaks away from tradition with his signature playful forms and saturated colors. His approach welcomes the chosen family, unexpected moments, and everyday spontaneity. “This is my interpretation of holidays, it’s a new design for a new generation,” he shares. “One thing that remains the same when it comes to celebration is getting together with friends and family, regardless of how you define them.” His work invites people to think beyond the calendar, and instead embrace connection on their own terms.
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The third mood arrives through Evelina Kroon’s nostalgic yet forward-facing take on celebration. Kroon draws from childhood memories to reimagine rituals through scale and composition, creating pieces that feel both familiar and unexpected. “The collection is nostalgic for me,” she says. “Experimenting with scale and proportions revives that memory, and through these creations, I know I can carry it with me into the future.” Her work situates tradition as a starting point, not a limitation.
Magdalena Walther, Product Developer at IKEA of Sweden, sees the collaboration as a chance to challenge conventions while staying rooted in togetherness. “Gustaf and Evelina are a wonderful match on this journey,” she explains. “Their combined perspectives let us explore new ways of coming together—less formal, yet full of style, warmth, and the spirit of gathering.”
Though the full collection will launch in 2025, the announcement signals IKEA’s ongoing interest in rituals that reflect how people live now. Whether it’s a spontaneous dinner with friends, a family holiday steeped in memory, or a moment of solitude, the collaboration recognizes the many forms celebration can take. By offering design that resonates across generations and lifestyles, IKEA continues to expand the conversation around home as a shared experience.
