11 November, 2010
Edith Cowan University (ECU) Design student and East Perth resident, Nikki Kasperkiewicz, has rocked IKEA with her chair design, which is now on display at the Innaloo store until Saturday, 20 November.
Nikki’s rocking chair and footstool design was developed as part of ECU’s third-year Interior and Spatial Design course, which is run through a partnership with IKEA.
IKEA also works with ECU to provide curricular input, financial support and practical experience for students.
Twenty three students submitted a detailed design and a scale model of their chair.
The students each worked to the same brief, which was to create a chair inspired by an architectural style. They also had to meet the IKEA standard for design, manufacture and transportation in order to be able to deliver the final product at the lowest possible price.
The designs were presented to IKEA and Nikki’s design, the MILKKÖ, was chosen for fabrication as a life size prototype. She also received a $2,000 grant from IKEA.
The MILKKÖ rocking chair and footstool has been designed for nursing mothers and young children. Nikki researched and designed the chair and stool to provide maximum support and comfort to a mother during feeding.
In keeping with IKEA tradition, the MILKKÖ has also been designed as a flat packed item using chrome plated steel tubing, which is easily constructed using an IKEA Allen Key.
Nikki’s MILKKÖ rocking chair and footstool is now on display in then entrance of the Showroom of the IKEA Innaloo store until Saturday, 20 November.
Also, on display at IKEA is the work of second year students from the Interior and Spatial Design course. The students have created a series of window display models, each using one item of IKEA furniture.
The partnership between IKEA and ECU helps to foster the talent of emerging designers in Perth by providing them with an opportunity to promote their work and reach a large audience.
WHAT: Exhibition by students from Interior and Spatial Design at Edith Cowan University.
WHEN: Until Saturday, 20 November.
WHERE: IKEA Innaloo, 6 Sunray Drive (off Ellen Stirling Bvd), Innaloo
Media contact: Simon Hatcher, 0419 780 071
