5 Exciting Announcements from IKEA's Democratic Design Days

Each year, IKEA holds its annual Democratic Design Days—a two-day event in which the furniture company drops big news, revealing its most innovative ideas and offering sneak peeks at future collections, products, and collaborations. Taking place in Älmhult, Sweden—home of the first IKEA store and the IKEA Museum—it's all about showcasing how good design can combine form, function, quality, and sustainability while maintaining IKEA's standard low price point.

From robotic room dividers for space-saving to new materials with an aim to help with pollution, the brand isn't afraid to dream big. Aside from the delicious new plant-based meatballs (made from pea protein, potato flakes, oats, and apple) and the lingonberry soda on tap (they really feed you well when you're soaking up all the latest designs), here is the most exciting news from the event.

1. A new series of products with Saint Heron.

Calling all Solange fans! The Gåtfull collection brings together IKEA and Saint Heron—Solange Knowles's creative agency, which itself as "a cultural hub, building an inclusive community based on artist and artisan collaborations and collective work." It's not clear exactly what the pieces will be yet (the brand has produced sculptures, ceramics, music, visual art, and performance art in the past), but the theme is "time, space, light, and matter." Mysterious, really, but the 2021 debut is promised to be functional and collectible.

2. Using ocean plastic in new products.

The polyester fabric used to created the Musselblomma collection is made from recycled plastic, partly collected by Spanish fishermen in the Mediterranean Sea, as a way to positively contribute to the problem of plastic pollution in the ocean. Spanish designer Inma Bermúdez used a simple geometric pattern of greens, teals, and corals that are reminiscent of fish and the sea. You can expect a bag, two cushion covers, and a tablecloth, which will roll out first in Italy and Spain.

3. A harvesting residue becomes a beautiful material.

Last year IKEA launched its initiative called "Better Air Now" with the aim to take action on a global environmental issue by turning rice straws—a harvesting residue that seriously contributes to air pollution and smog when burned—into raw, usable material. The prototypes, in shades of black and blue, consist of rugs, bowls, baskets, and lampshades, and will ideally be sold later this year. Called Förändring, which means "change" in Swedish, the collection showcases the results of IKEA's continued effort for reducing air pollution and creating new renewable material sources for IKEA products. The brand is making us feel a little less bleak about the future, that's for sure.

4. Robotic furniture ideal for small spaces.

Um, robot furniture? We're in! Combining all the smartest space-saving tactics like a trundle bed and movable walls with smart technology and seamless automation, IKEA is collaborating with Ori, an MIT-based startup, to present Rognan, a robotic furniture solution. Essentially, Rognan is built on a robotic platform with IKEA storage solutions. So with a few light touches, you can transform a small living space into the ideal configuration you need. The all-in-one solution is activated through a simple interface touch pad. Instead of making your furniture smaller, the system allows you to transform the pieces to become whatever you need at that time. The first launch of Rognan will be in Hong Kong and Japan in 2020, so we are anxiously awaiting the arrival Stateside.

5. Teaming up with fashion and street culture in Thailand.

In 1980, Greyhound Original opened its first store in Bangkok with men’s casualwear and then expanded to womens wear and accessories. In 1998, the brand expanded to food by opening a café, thus becoming more of a lifestyle brand. IKEA reached out to the Thailand-based company in order to tap into its ability to adapt and think about materials in new ways—reducing, reusing, and repurposing are strong sentiments for both teams. The results? Sammankoppla, which means "interconnect" or "unify." The collection will be available in stores in 2020, with some version of prototypes that currently include bright, colorful floor cushions, recycled mats, and a long-sleeve tee.

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest