IKEA's influence on modern living through affordable, stylish, self-assembly furniture.
Mention of Ikea's successful product lines and ventures.
The Inflatable Furniture Project
Context
IKEA's attempt to innovate with inflatable furniture.
Aimed to revolutionize furniture design and transport.
Development
Initiated by Jan Dranger and Johan Huldt with their company Innovator.
Initial failure due to air retention problems.
Dranger's persistence led to a meeting with IKEA founder, Ingvar Kamprad.
Product Launch
Promise and Investment
IKEA sees potential in Dranger's concept.
Extensive investment in development.
Focused on sustainability with 85% less resource use and 90% less transportation volume.
Product Details
Product line named IKEA A.i.r. ("Air is a resource").
Models like INNERLIG introduced as innovative and eco-friendly.
Challenges and Failures
Consumer Issues
Inflatable nature led to impracticalities (lightweight, easily moved).
Inflatable couches required cold air for inflation, problematic with common hair dryers.
Valves leaked air, causing the furniture to deflate over time.
Static charge attracted dust.
Inflatable furniture was noisy and uncomfortable.
Market Performance
High return rates due to dissatisfaction with product quality.
Collaboration with Dranger ended in 1999.
Later attempts to market inflatable pieces for children underperformed.
Lessons and Reflections
Importance of thorough product testing before mass production.
Despite its failure, the project highlighted potential benefits:
Significant reductions in resource use and transport volume.
Innovation often requires taking risks, even if they lead to failure.
Broader Impacts
Mention of the Museum of Failure, which celebrates innovation attempts despite failures.
Story underscores the necessity of risk-taking in innovation.
Potential for future inflatable furniture improvements remains, with attention to stability and material quality.
Conclusion
IKEA's inflatable furniture serves as a cautionary tale of innovation and the importance of balancing creativity with practical functionality. Lessons learned continue to inform design and product development.