The story behind the collection
A little help from BÄSINGEN
When Sarah Fager began conceptualising the BÄSINGEN collection, she did so with a clear goal: to create beautiful, inclusive designs for the many that support the independence of people of all ages in the most important place – our own homes. Let’s see how she brought her ambitious collection into the world.
If you were to visit an IKEA and see the BÄSINGEN collection on the store floor, you’d think it was an attractive, minimalist addition to our standard range. And you’d be right. But the BÄSINGEN collection comes with something extra special. Each of the six products has hidden features that hope to give people who have or encounter challenges at home a helping hand.
When designer Sarah Fager started working on the collection, she was immediately entranced by design thinking challenges she hadn’t faced before. "At IKEA, we do our product development in an open environment,” says Sarah. “Because people are always walking around, we get feedback constantly. When we show our prototypes there, people sit down and ask questions and sometimes, we ask people to take objects home and test them.”
“We wanted to create something that fits with our range, coordinated with the Scandinavian, minimalistic style that we have at IKEA. We tried different colours but landed on anthracite as it works well as a contrast when placed in spaces which are often lighter, like the bathroom,” says Sarah.
The step stools
Practicality and beauty in one! The step stools add both to the kitchen and bathroom. The lacquered metal is a stylish contrast to the textured plastic, and the curved handrail on each product offers added support and aesthetic interest.
The shower solutions
Inspired by the insight that many people experience impactful changes that can make something as simple as taking a shower challenging. By adding a chair, or a shower shelf with a hidden integrated handle, you can give people added support and improve their independence – making shower time more relaxing and enjoyable.
The grip bars
For people looking for a towel rail, or a toilet roll holder, that is exactly what they will see when they look at the BÄSINGEN collection. For people looking for extra support, they will note the grips added to the design. That was precisely what Sarah aimed for with this collection: to be beautiful to everyone, with hidden functionality for those who need it.
"BÄSINGEN mirrors our commitment to Democratic Design – where form, function, quality, sustainability, and low price come together to create a better life for the many people." – Sarah Fager