IKEA returned to Milan Design Week with Food For Thought, an immersive exhibition that combined design, food and social connection at Spazio Maiocchi from 21 to 26 April.
The installation also marked the first public preview of the new IKEA PS 2026 range, introducing three products from the upcoming tenth edition of the collection.
© IKEA
According to IKEA, the exhibition explored how food and design shape everyday life through a sensory journey built around taste, ideas and co-creation.
The IKEA PS collection returned to Milan after 31 years, continuing its focus on democratic design. Previewed pieces included an inflatable easy chair, a solid pine rocking bench and a three-directional floor lamp.
Maria O'Brian, Creative Leader at IKEA of Sweden, said: "IKEA PS 2026 is about pushing Scandinavian design forward through playful, expressive simplicity, always grounded in one ambition: to make bold and forward-thinking design accessible to the many."
The Food For Thought concept was co-created with Midori Hasuike and Emerzon.
Inside the venue, five interior designers and five chefs collaborated to create five installations where rooms and menus were developed together, examining how spaces shape the experience of cooking and dining.
© IKEA
A large central kitchen hosted daily tastings and live culinary performances throughout the week.
The courtyard was transformed into a market inspired by the Swedish saluhall, featuring local produce in partnership with Coldiretti and textile upcycling products by PRISM. A "meatball lollipop" was also created in collaboration with Chupa Chups. Visitors concluded the experience at the BILLY Café, a space inspired by the iconic BILLY bookcase and featuring 1,000 cookbooks curated by Phaidon.
Sustainability initiatives included a partnership with Too Good To Go to redistribute unsold food, alongside AI-powered waste sorting systems from Etrash. Beyond the main venue, IKEA also continued its collaboration with Fondazione Francesco Morelli and IED through Glitch Camp, supporting visiting design students during the week.
More information:
IKEA
www.ikea.com
