Design Management

Background of IKEA

IKEA is a Swedish company that designs and home accessories. It was founded in 1943 by 17-year-old Ingvar Kamprad. IKEA now has become the most famous furniture retailer.

General description of design management model/structure

Figure1: Lucerne Design Management Model Part3 – Acklin(2010)

This model shows the core processes of design magnagement that contribute to the value creation through design. Brand management entails the alignment of business and brand strategy and thus is a leadership issue, while the internal and outward expression of a company’s core values often is placed in the corporate communication department.(Acklin, 2010)

New product/Service development process

“Today, as product and service become more and more commoditised, many companies are moving to a new level in creating values for their customers. To differentiate their offers, they are developing and delivering total customer experience.”(Kotler & Armstrong, 2004) As a customer-driven company, IKEA has a special business model that connect the requirements of their customers. IKEA offers a wide range of well-designed, functional and affordable home furnishing products. IKEA designers design every IKEA product starting with a functional need and a price. Most IKEA products are also designed to be transported in flat packs and assembled at the customer’s home. Also IKEA can do plans for customers. Customers pay lower money and just enjoy the service.

Corporate design management process

IKEA’s vision is to create a better everyday life for the many people. IKEA works with different design teams. These teams handle both complete design processes as well as processes in which they adapt existing IKEA products.

Brand design and management process

IKEA stores are usually very large bule buildings with few windows and yellow accents. They are designed around a “one-way” layout which leads customers along the”the long natural way”. This layout is...