An installation exploring life at home and a talk about the future of design feature in this video of highlights from yesterday at IKEA Festival, which Dezeen is publishing as part of our partnership with the brand during Milan design week.

Hosted by Swedish presenter and journalist Amie Bramme Sey, the video spotlights a tour of the IKEA Festival venue by chief creative officer of IKEA Retail Marcus Engman, including one of the five Ögonblick – Swedish for "slices of life" – installations on show during the event.

Commenting on the Living Single Ögonblick, Engman discusses how this home reflects a space where people can express their personalities freely.

"This Ögonblick is all about living when you are established," he said. "When you're a little bit older and your personality has grown and you know what you like and what you don't like, and when your home could become your personality or vice versa."

Another highlight yesterday included a talk by designer Ilse Crawford, founder of Studio Ilse Crawford and Karin Gustavsson, range and design leader at IKEA of Sweden, who discussed Crawford's new fragrance range, which includes eight new candles.

The video also includes clips from a talk by Fredikra Inger, managing director at IKEA of Sweden, who discusses the increasing pressures of climate change, inequalities and the cost of living and how IKEA aims to create affordable designs to help people meet their needs.

"We have democratic design, but it's important to stretch that," said Inger. "We're super curious, we dare to be optimistic, we dare to rethink."

Also in the video is a short talk by learning and activity manager at IKEA Museum, Per-Olof Svensson, who discusses IKEA's history in Milan "all the way back to the 1950s when [brand founder] Ingvar Kamprad visited Milan design week for the first time".

A talk with Latin American designers on their practices and how to have a good time even in the smallest of spaces also features.

The panel included IKEA collaborating designers Trini Guzman, Diana Ordonez, Abel Carcamo and Liliana Ovalle, as well as Friso Wiersma and Maria O'Brian from IKEA of Sweden.

In another talk led by writer and editor Maisie Skidmore, Life at Home Leader at IKEA Katie McCrory, co-founder of the Moleskin Foundation Adama Sanneh and Ilse Crawford discussed the global importance of creating a home for human wellbeing, taking into account research by IKEA.

Other highlights included a live podcast recording with Micael Dahlén and Crawford and an evening performance by Milanese rap musician Ghali.

Running from 6 to 12 June, IKEA Festival includes exhibitions, installations and Democratic Design Talks alongside the Swedish furniture brand's latest product and collaboration news.

Dezeen is a partner for IKEA Festival and will be publishing video highlights from the festival throughout the week.

Find out about the full programme here.

IKEA Festival takes place from 6 to 12 June 2022 at BASE, Via Bergognone 34, 20144 Milan, as part of Milan design week 2022. See our Milan design week 2022 guide on Dezeen Events Guide for information about the many other exhibitions, installations and talks taking place throughout the week.

Dezeen x IKEA Festival

This article was written by Dezeen for IKEA as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.