Delaktig collection on show at Multiplex event in Milan – Courtesy of Tom Dixon.

Milan 2017 . IKEA teams with British designer Tom Dixon to present DELAKTIG, the first open source, modular bed-sofa responding to the nomad lifestyle of younger generations. The project that will be available in early 2018 is a highly adaptable flat-pack bed/sofa that can be transformed through third-party add-ons thanks to an open-source “platform for living”. Archipanic spoke to IKEA’s design director Marcus Engman and Tom Dixon who also involved students from London, Tokyo and New York students to hack the new concept-design.

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Courtesy of Tom Dixon.

Delaktig – Swedish for being part of something – comes with an light and strong aluminium structure and a minimal upholstered top. Easy to flat-pack and assemble but also sustainable to ship. “Young generations have a nomad lifestyle moving from flat to flat and often leaving furniture behind them. Still, a bed is pretty much the only thing you need in furniture” Says Tom Dixon to Archipanic. “DELAKTIG responds to this essential need. But its modular design allows it to become a sofa, a chaise lounge as well as anything you want it to be.”

The new designs were developed also with Swedish textile brand Bemz – Photo by @bemz, IG.

The project increases quality level with a highly industrialized process. Indeed, DELAKTIG is highly adaptable thanks to a modular design offering the chance to be implemented through an open source online platform open to designers and end users who will be able to “pimp” their sofa/beds according to their needs and share their designs to a wider community.

Photo by @bemz, IG.

“Co-creation is very normal now, particularly in the digital word. In apps, for instance, or music as well. I would imagine it will become more popular in the physical world as well.” Comments Tom Dixon. “You can bolt on a side-table or a headboard or a light. DELAKTIG can actually become the base for very different functionalities.”

Tom Dixon at Royal College of Arts in London – Courtesy of Tom Dixon.

“Open source highly industrialized design is quite a revolutionizing concept that could open a pandora vase of creativity but also challenging the relationship between furniture companies and designers”. says to Archipanic Ikea design development director Marcus Engman. “It is about a brand new business model. I believe the more people tries to solve the main big issues the better. We need a collective brain to work on it. That’s why open source is a big thing.”

Yeti design proposal for Delaktig developed in collaboration with Bemz.

As part of the project in open source concept, IKEA and Tom Dixon invited students from the Royal College of Arts and Parson School of design in Tokyo and New York to bring their ideas to the table. “The student were equal partner in the design development” says to Archipanic Ian Higgins, Senior Tutor of Interior Design at RCA. Some of them were also offered the opportunity to continue working on their ideas.

Hacked design proposal by BootlegDesigns – @bootlegdesigns, IG.

The results were rather fascinating. From a yeti version to a wheeled-legs proposal but also a multicolor patterns and unexpected functionalities, like bed working as an earthquake home shelter. Looking forward to it.

Photo by aluminium supplier Sapagroup – Ph. by @sapagroup, IG.