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.
The History of IKEA
The journey of IKEA to become a global phenomenon proves the power of vision and perseverance. What started as a dream of a young boy in a small Swedish town blossomed into a brand that touches millions of hearts and homes worldwide. It all began in 1943, when 17-year-old Ingvar Kamprad began his entrepreneurial journey in the province of Småland, Sweden. With a little money he received from his father, the young Kamprad founded a modest mail-order business. He named it IKEA, which is an acronym of his initials (Ingvar Kamprad), the farm where he grew up (Elmtaryd), and his hometown (Agunnaryd).
Initially, the offerings of IKEA were limited to small items like wallets and picture frames. However, in 1947, the company ventured into furniture sales. In this pursuit, it sourced products and raw materials from local manufacturers. Thus began the transformative journey that would shape the future of IKEA.
Thereafter, driven by a relentless pursuit of innovation, IKEA began designing its own furniture. In 1953, the company introduced a groundbreaking concept that would become its hallmark: ready-to-assemble furniture in flat packs. This ingenious solution made the furniture more affordable and accessible and revolutionised the industry.
From those humble roots, IKEA has grown into a global powerhouse. It has more than 450 stores spread across five continents. Besides, its name resonates with customers worldwide who appreciate the commitment of the brand to affordability, functionality, and stylish designs. The remarkable story of IKEA is a testament to the power of a single idea, how it is nurtured, and a vision to create a better life for people everywhere.
Interesting Facts About IKEA
- IKEA was established in 1943 by a 17-year-old Ingvar Kamprad as a mail order sales business. The shop used to sell items such as wallets, pens, watches, jewellery, and picture frames, among other things. The shop was converted into a museum in 2016.
- IKEA is an acronym for the initials of Ingvar Kamprad, the founder; Elmtaryd, the farm he grew up on; and Agunaryd, his home village.
- The money used to establish the first IKEA store was actually a gift given by Ingvar’s father for achieving good results in school.
- Flat-pack furniture that is associated with IKEA has been invented by Gillis Lundgren in Sweden. He was a draughtsman who was hired by Ingvar Kamprad.
- Flat-pack furniture was made when the inventor could not fit a wooden table into the trunk of a car. Resultantly, he thought of pulling off the legs of the table to fit the table inside.
- IKEA started selling furniture only in 1948. He used to source wood from nearby forests.
- The average size of any IKEA store is 300,000 square feet, which is equal to about 42 tennis courts. In fact, the second largest IKEA store is in Stockholm, Sweden, which covers 594,000 square feet.
- The largest IKEA store in the world is in Pasay City, Philippines, and it measures a whopping 699,654 square feet.
- IKEA sells flat-pack houses without involving any estate agent. These houses cost a fraction of the cost of a regular home.
- According to statistics, about one out of every 10 Europeans is conceived on an IKEA bed.
- The first IKEA store had a restaurant, which was built by the founder Kamprad when he realised that people visited the shop but did not buy anything as they were probably hungry. The restaurant offers a Swedish meatball fix. However, when the restaurant was opened for the first time, it offered only coffee and biscuits.
- IKEA employs more than 147,000 people.
- IKEA has around 10,000 products.
- It is estimated that more IKEA catalogues (180 million) are printed than the Bible (100 million).
- There are over 400 IKEA stores around the world.
- IKEA selects Nordic names for its range of furniture and other products.
- The founder of IKEA lived till the age of 91.
- The first IKEA store in the USA opened in Pennsylvania in 1985. The store attracted about 150,000 customers every week.
- The meals offered in IKEA restaurants are going to be plant-based by 2025.
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.