After a 16-hour journey from Manila to Copenhagen followed by a scenic train ride through southern Sweden, Tatler Philippines arrived in Älmhult to take part in IKEA’s long-awaited Democratic Design Days. The annual event—held for the first time since 2019—offered exclusive access to the brand’s design philosophy, facilities, and innovation hubs.
This year, Tatler was the sole print publication from the Philippines invited to attend, gaining first-hand insight into IKEA’s unique approach to accessible, sustainable, and functional design.
Over three days, attendees were immersed in a vibrant programme of pop-up exhibitions, panel discussions, and live performances, all curated by the globally recognized Scandinavian furniture brand.
The event also provided a rare opportunity to visit the IKEA Museum, IKEA Hotell, IKEA Test Lab, IKEA Food Lab, and the IKEA of Sweden office. Each facility plays a central role in the company’s mission to deliver “democratic design”—a concept rooted in five pillars: form, function, quality, sustainability, and affordability.
Guests were welcomed at the IKEA Hotell, where each room is furnished exclusively with IKEA pieces. Among the highlights was the IKEA PS wall clock, designed by Thomas Eriksson in 1995. Now part of Sweden’s Nationalmuseum permanent collection, the clock is considered an enduring icon of Swedish industrial design.
With its return, Democratic Design Days reinforces IKEA’s commitment to making well-designed, functional home products available to the many, not just the few—a vision that continues to shape homes and lifestyles around the world.
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