Ikea Unveils Mars-Inspired Furniture Collection Rumtid

Ikea has announced a collaboration with NASA's Mars Desert Research Station to develop a new furniture collection called Rumtid, inspired by life on Mars. The collection was previewed in June 2018 at the company's Democratic Design Days conference. It includes an air purifier, a terrarium, an indoor garden, modular furniture systems, lighting solutions, and a new ultralight material made from wood and production waste. The tubular elements can be connected to create custom furniture pieces. The project aims to apply lessons from extreme space living to urban environments with limited space. Designer Siri Skillgate, part of a five-person team led by creative director Micheal Nikolic, stayed in Japanese capsule hotels and a simulator in the Utah desert to study compact living. The collection is scheduled for launch in 2020, coinciding with NASA's next Mars mission. The collaboration was first reported by Artribune in July 2018.