With its latest concept, ‘Couch in an Envelope,’ produced jointly with Swiss company Panter & Tourron, the renowned furniture brand is pushing the boundaries of design. This design aims to redefine the classic couch as a flat-packed, flexible, and lightweight piece of furniture that meets the needs of modern living.
At the heart of this design concept is the light and easy-to-assemble frame. The latter weighs just 10kg and uses eco materials. Also, anyone can handle it due to the clever packaging. As a result, it speeds up shipping and reduces the impact on the Earth. An aluminum frame, cellulose-based textiles, yarns, and mycelium foam are among the eco components.
Another key feature of the Couch in an Envelope is the modular approach. So buyers can modify it according to their needs. Say, the sofa can change from a resting spot to a social area easily.
Ikea’s research lab, Space10, combined AI with the creative process to develop this amazing design. The team used AI to reinvent the notion of comfort for modern living by challenging traditional sofa tropes. This involved providing AI platforms with alternative keywords such as ‘platform,’ ‘lightweight,’ ‘sustainable,’ and ‘easy to move.’
Discover Ikea’s new ‘Couch in an Envelope’ concept
While AI helped design the Couch in an Envelope, human skills were equally vital. Beyond the power of algorithms, Space10 thinks that AI can’t do the whole job and it still needs human help.
The sofa requires no tools, screws, or other hardware to assemble, making it quite user-friendly. You can adjust the design in over 30 ways to fit personal needs and limited space. For instance, the sofa can turn into a flat bed.
It should be noted that the Couch in an Envelope is a speculative design concept and is not for commercial sale at Ikea. However, the project illustrates Ikea’s commitment to inspiring change in the design community. Ikea wants to create designs that are better for people and the planet by rejecting outdated stereotypes and embracing lighter, more sustainable choices.
We have no idea what future the Couch in an Envelope will have. But it shows Ikea’s dedication to finding new solutions and changing the furniture industry for a greener future. By the way, AI is widely used in many areas. For instance, Levi’s is using it to generate looks on fake models while freeing itself from the burden of paying for real human models.
