On Thursday 21 September 2017, A Level Graphic Design students from Coulsdon College visited IKEA where they were treated to a host of talks and workshops by the IKEA in-house design team. They were introduced to topics such as customer experience and product promotion, enabling them to gain an insight into real-life situations in the design world.
Working in groups, they then visited a series of rooms that IKEA staff had prepared for them, tasking them with identifying who they thought each room was designed for. This involved considering the style of the room, property type and possible demographics. Teacher Helena Vaughan commented, ‘The trip was a really important exercise in design: the students got to see how the shop is designed to give visitors the best possible experience, and they also had the opportunity to have their worked critiqued by the designers who offered valuable feedback.’
Having picked up some excellent tips, the students then rounded off the day with breakfast in the staff canteen with the design team.
