IKEA is the world-renowned furniture retailer from Sweden that is known for its affordable, stylish, and functional furniture and home furnishings. The company specialises in designing and manufacturing ready-to-assemble furniture pieces and operates out of more than four hundred stores spread around the world. At the heart of the brand identity of IKEA lies its iconic logo.
It is deceptively simple and yet meticulously crafted to encapsulate the rich history of the company and its commitment to innovation. The logo has undergone several transformations over the years to meet the ever-changing design trends and customer preferences of the day. The article traces the history and evolution of the IKEA logo over the years.
The Genesis of the IKEA Logo (1951 – 1952)
The original IKEA logo, featuring a traditional seal of red wax, was unveiled in 1951. The logo version looked like a postal stamp used to seal letters and parcels. The seal had a thin border in white and a wordmark written in cursive lowercase. The wordmark stating the name of the company was placed in the middle of the logo, while another wordmark, “Kvalitets Garanti,” which meant “the quality guarantee,” was placed at the top and bottom in arched formations.
(1952 – 1957)
The next IKEA logo featured a white diagonal wordmark written in a geometric sans-serif typeface and placed on a brown-coloured cloud-like image. Also, the letter “E” in the wordmark in capitals had a small glyph at the top. The image was also diagonally oriented to balance the direction of the letters and form a semblance of motion.
(1952 – 1953)
In 1952, the logo was redesigned using a diagonally oriented and extra-bold wordmark in capitals. The wordmark comprising “KATALOG 1952 IKEA AGUNNARYD” was positioned on an abstract cloud-shaped background at different levels. The size of the wordmark “IKEA” in white was considerably bigger than the other two. The brown-coloured logo appeared on a vertically striped background, where the stripes in white were of varying levels of thickness.
(1953 – 1955)
This particular logo was transformed into a light beige cloud-like badge without any patterns. At the centre of this badge appeared the name of the company in a weathered white shade. Another wordmark, “Agunnaryd,” was placed on the lower right side of the badge.
(1955 – 1956)
In 1955, the colour palette of the logo was changed. The cloud badge of the earlier iteration was changed to yellow and placed on a horizontal black rectangle. The wordmark “Agunnaryd” was enlarged and put on the bottom right side of the cloud badge. Besides, it was mentioned in a geometric sans-serif typeface in capital letters.
(1956 – 1957)
The background of the cloud-like graphic sporting the brand name “IKEA” was again changed to black. And the entire graphic was placed in a rectangle with a white background and a black outline. The tagline “ALMHULT” was mentioned in capital letters and in a sans-serif font at the bottom right side.
(1957 – 1958)
In 1957, the cloud-like graphic in black with the brand name in white was set against a yellow background with a black border. The yellow rectangular frame had the words “Mobel” and “Almhult” written on the top and bottom, respectively. Interestingly, the colour gradient of the brand name was turned yellow to counterbalance the contrast of the logo.
(1958 – 1962)
In this logo iteration, the cloud-shaped graphic was changed into an oval, and the yellow background of the overall rectangle was turned black. Also, the background colour within the oval was changed to white. The colour palette of the wordmarks was changed. For instance, the brand name inside the oval was turned black, while the ones at the top and bottom of the emblem were made white.
(1962 – 1965)
In this iteration, the glyph on top of the letter “E” of the brand name was removed. Also, the diagonal orientation of the earlier logo iterations was made into a horizontal one. Further, the “MOBEL” and “ALMHULT” wordmarks were enlarged and placed near the oval graphic – top and bottom, respectively.
(1966 – 1967)
In 1966, the logo turned monochrome, and the other wordmarks were placed below the oval graphic on a white band. This modern logo became the prototype for all future logos of the company.
(1967 – 1981)
In this logo iteration, the additional words were removed, and the colour palette of the background was changed to pristine white from the earlier shade of weathered white. Also, the logo got a more professional look thanks to the refined lines and contours of the wordmark.
(1981 – 1982)
In this logo iteration, the colour palette was switched from black and white to red and white. It was aimed at showcasing the power and passion of the Swedish furniture brand.
(1982 – 2019)
The colour palette was changed again in 1982, and a perfect combination was found for the logo. In other words, the white oval background was changed to yellow, and the letters of the brand name were changed to a deep shade of blue. This colour scheme represented the qualities of happiness, reliability, safety, and ease associated with the brand.
(2019 – Today)
The logo iteration of 2019 saw the colour palette change to a darker blue shade without changing the style, size, and contours of the wordmark in any way. The logo appeared more serious and evoked a feeling of pleasantness.
The Elements of the IKEA Logo
Font
The IKEA logo is a masterclass in simplicity and functionality, and reflects the design ethos of the brand. The font used for the wordmark is clean and modern. The distinct slant of the wordmark adds a touch of dynamism and energy. In fact, IKEA developed its own proprietary typeface, which is aptly named “IKEA Sans.” It has been specifically designed to complement the visual identity of the brand.
Colour
The colour palette of the IKEA logo is instantly recognisable and comprises a vibrant shade of yellow and a deep and rich shade of blue. These shades have been chosen carefully to evoke warmth, energy, and reliability. Besides, they also represent the national colours of Sweden. The yellow represents the sun, optimism, and the commitment of the company to sustainability. The blue, on the other hand, symbolises trustworthiness and stability.
Finally
Today, the IKEA logo is known as a powerful symbol of the values and legacy of the company. Its clean, minimalist design and instantly recognisable colour palette have become associated with affordable luxury. The evolution of the logo mirrors the remarkable journey of IKEA from a humble mail-order business to a global retail powerhouse. It shows the resilience, adaptability, and commitment of the company to its core principles.
The IKEA logo has played a crucial role in establishing the position of the company in the market and has captured the hearts and minds of consumers worldwide. The logo is expected to remain a powerful symbol of the enduring legacy of the brand in the future as well.