IKEA is set to produce a collection of space-saving furniture that draws on the logistics of space travel to find innovative solutions for shrinking living spaces.
The new collection was announced today at the furniture company's annual Democratic Design Day, which is taking place in Älmhult, Sweden. While it hasn't been revealed what products will be included in the collection, IKEA says it will launch in 2019.
IKEA's Democratic Design Day aims to make the company's plans more transparent by sharing some of its behind-the-scenes research and processes. It takes place each year in Älmhult, the home of the first IKEA store.
Working alongside NASA and Lund University School of Industrial Design, the space collection will "tap into what scientists and engineers learn from spaceflight" ? particularly the way they deal with restricted living areas. As part of the project, IKEA also revealed that it is working alongside NASA to figure out how interior spaces might be designed for life on Mars, and how they could make the planet feel like home to those who would live there.

Related story IKEA could move more manufacturing to UK to avoid post-Brexit price hikes

"This collaboration is not about IKEA going to Mars, but we are curious about life in space, the challenges and needs, and what we can make out of that experience for the many people," Michael Nikolic, creative leader at IKEA Range and Sup...