IKEA

Before the 2018 redesign, the IKEA logo had remained largely unchanged since the 1980s. The update focused on improving legibility, consistency, and color reproduction for digital use.

The refined design ensured the logo worked clearly across all formats, from mobile screens to storefronts and packaging.

As IKEA expanded globally, its blue-and-yellow identity became increasingly central to the brand. From 1991 onward, stores featured blue facades with large yellow IKEA signage, turning the buildings themselves into highly visible brand symbols.

The same color scheme appeared on catalogs, which became some of the world’s most widely distributed printed materials, reinforcing IKEA’s identity as an export of Swedish culture. Interestingly, Scandinavia continued using the older red-and-white logo for years, yet the brand remained instantly recognizable despite the regional variation.

The phrase “Kvalitetsgaranti” (quality guarantee) first appeared in 1951 alongside IKEA in its early catalogues, but it was quickly discontinued the following year. Despite its short use, the idea of a quality guarantee became central to IKEA’s brand identity.

In 1952, advertising head Gillis Lundgren redesigned the existing mark, creating an early form of the modern logo. The wordmark was set diagonally in uppercase, reflecting the company’s focus on durable hardwood furniture, with color choices inspired by that material.

By the late 1950s, variants such as “Möbel-IKEA” and “Älmhult” appeared as the company expanded. When the first store opened in Älmhult in 1958, a stylized building icon was also introduced alongside the evolving logo, marking a step toward a more unified visual identity.