IKEA and NASA’s New Collection Is All About … Saving Space

Your space, to be clear

June 28, 2018 9:00 am

Another day, another IKEA collaboration that seems a bit out of left field.

But if you really think about it, IKEA and NASA are that couple that’s so perfect for each other you can’t believe you didn’t see it before. Both have a reputation for hyper-engineered, optimized excellence. Both have an enduring appeal in pop culture despite defying the everyman’s higher brain. Both might hold part of the answer to mankind’s survival on a changing planet.

And they both want to help people save space.

The newly announced RUMTID Collection by IKEA was developed in partnership with NASA’s Utah-based Mars Desert Research Station, and features four distinct product lines focusing loosely on the themes of time, space, water and air, with items optimized for small-footprint urban living.

“We want to learn from extreme scenarios and connect them back to Earth, focusing on urbanization and small-space living,” said designer Siri Skillgate during the announcement at IKEA’s Democratic Design Days conference.

Rumtid (7 images)

So far, images have surfaced of an air purifier, small indoor terrarium for gardening, lighting, shelving and a composite veneer material made from wood and waste that can be used in conjunction with connectors for customized shelving and tables.

The team researched the realities of small-space living in part by spending time in Tokyo, where adept micro-living is a necessity.

The products will be released in limited-edition batches beginning in 2020.

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