A final year textile student from Afghanistan has had his design brought to life thanks to a partnership between Birmingham City University and IKEA home store.
The UK University approached the Swedish furniture giant earlier this year as part of its annual Trends Project, and IKEA donated a POÄNG chair for textile students to create an original cover.
Having impressed university academics and IKEA’s design team, a design by undergraduate Nader Nazari has been used to decorate the iconic POÄNG chair, and is proudly on display in IKEA’s Birmingham Central store
Dawn Lloyd, Unit Manager at IKEA Birmingham Central said: “Since opening our Order and Collection Point in Birmingham city centre last August, the team here have been keen to build relationships with the local community and truly act as a good neighbour. We are very pleased to forge a partnership with Birmingham City University and its students.
“Nader is the first student we have had the pleasure to work with and we are incredibly humbled by the level of workmanship he has displayed in this project, designing a wonderful textiles solution for one of IKEA’s iconic and much-loved products – the POÄNG chair, which wreated by Japanese designer Noboru Nakamura in 1977.
“We wish Nader the very best of luck with his career and look forward to being inspired working with future students.”
Born and raised in Afghanistan before moving to Birmingham, UK in 2008, Nader’s design for the POÄNG chair takes inspiration from his passion for the natural word, coupled with the theme of this year’s Trends Project ‘Grace’.
Ruth Edwards, Business Engagement Manager for the Faculty of Arts, Design and Media (ADM) at Birmingham City University, said: “Challenging our students, staff and partners to come up with brand new concepts which are fresh, engaging and new, generates some truly innovative content. It’s this innovation which drives us and our partners to push the boundaries and is one of the most motivating elements of this showcase.
“Nader’s design for IKEA is also a great example of how industry partnerships can be developed to their full potential, providing the best outcome for the student, partner and university.”