The project focused on the discovery of innovative and sustainable materials, and the way that they could be included in products.

Leif is a shelving unit designed as a part of IKEA’s product lines which aims to limit the amount of materials used in manufacture and packaging, as well as the end of life considerations.

Target Market

Individuals who move often and require adaptable furniture

Jenny Walker

28 year old - Young professional for Philadelphia, PA

Jenny enjoys thrift shopping and looking for unique pieces that have a story behind them. She loves to snap photos of distinctive finds and share them on her Instagram page. Her interests include spending weekends in the markets of downtown LA with her boyfriend.

Xavier Burret

20 year old - Transfer International Student from Switzerland

Xavier goes to the gym early morning before his classes. He is an avid soccer player for the men’s team in his college. He loves to read up on what other graphic designers are doing all over the world. He also enjoys online shopping and always looks stylish whether at home or out and about. Xavier considers himself a minimalist and believes that everything has to have a purpose within his space.

Steve and Arianna Jones

37 and 35 year olds - Expat couple from Melbourne, Australia

Steve and Arianna love wine, and have a library of wine books. They are conscious of how they dispose of their bottles and are looking into starting a bottle recycling business. They take glass making classes and enjoy art shows that explore materiality of art. They run Facebook and Instagram pages that highlight possibilities of other uses of glass and other materials for DIY projects.

Opportunity Areas

For people who move often, the most desired item of furniture is shelving.

The shelving must be easy to assemble or disassemble in order to help move the shelf from location to location.

The shelf must use no fasteners to attache each component in order to facilitate recyclability and part swapping.

Partnership with IKEA

In partnering with IKEA, would allow access to efficient manufacturing plants, a global transportation network, and the use of buildings that run on renewable energy. Leif would be a perfect addition to their product line that could be made into a closed loop system.

Value Proposition Canvas

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Leif

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Materials

Newspaper Wood

A composite made from glued up newspaper sheets. Once it is created, it can be processed as regular wood.

Natural Rubber

Latex can be harvested from rubber trees and the substance coagulates when formic acid is added.

Anodized Aluminium

The metal can be recycled endlessly and the anodized coating protects it from wear and tear.

Ocean Plastic

The plastic can be created from cleaned pellets and molded into new forms.

Corrugated Cardboard

Cardboard is a high strength material that can be easily recycled and protect its contents.

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Mycelium

The material is made by placing organic matter and mycelium in an airtight mold where the fungus break

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Material/Color Variations

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Packaging

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Website Mockup

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