Poäng

The Poäng (Swedish: point, argument, punch line) is a wooden armchair that has been sold by the Swedish furniture retailer IKEA since 1978. As of 2016, about one-and-a-half million Poängs are sold annually, and a total of 30 million have been produced.[1][2]

Poäng
A Poäng chair
DesignerNoboru Nakamura
Date1978
Sold byIkea

The Japanese designer, Noboru Nakamura, created the chair in 1976 in collaboration with product manager Lars Engman.[3] Its design resembles that of the "Armchair 406," created by the Finnish designer Alvar Aalto in 1939, but it features thin upholstery instead of the 406's webbed seat. Its molded plywood frame swings slightly when a person sits in it, giving the impression of a rocking chair; Nakamura intended this to evoke a relaxing feeling.[1] The design of the chair has been changed several times since its introduction. Initially named "Poem," it was renamed to "Poäng" in 1992, and the seat part was changed from tubular steel to wood, which allowed the chair to be flat-packed and led to a price reduction of 21%. The color, pattern, and material of the upholstery were also repeatedly changed to account for changing customer preferences.[1] The Poäng's price has decreased markedly since its introduction. In the 1990s it sold for up to $350 in the U.S. (adjusted for inflation as of 2016) compared to a 2016 price of $79.[4]

In its post-1990s form, the Poäng is composed of a frame of bent, glued beechwood veneers and solid wooden rails, finished with clear lacquer[5] and available in various colors. The seating material consists of polypropylene support fabric and cushions made of leather or fabric filled with polyurethane foam.[6] A matching ottoman footstool is also sold.

Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of IKEA, expressed an affinity for the Poäng, and said in 2006 that he had owned the same one for 32 years.[7]

References
  1. Budds, Diana (1 September 2016). "Poäng: The Little-Known History Of Ikea's Most Famous Chair". Co.Design. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  2. POÄNG: 40 Years of Comfort and Style POSTED BY IKEA USA ON SEPTEMBER 01, 2016
  3. Diaz, Ann-Christine (17 August 2016). "An Unlikely Friendship Led to the Creation of Ikea's Iconic Poang Chair - Video - Creativity Online". creativity-online.com. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  4. Roeder, Oliver (21 October 2016). "The Weird Economics Of Ikea". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  5. Morris, Richard (2009). The fundamentals of product design. Lausanne: AVA Pub. p. 149. ISBN 9782940439218.
  6. "POÄNG Armchair - Ransta natural - IKEA". IKEA CA/EN. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  7. 1974 IKEA chair, one careful owner, not for sale Luke Harding for The Guardian Wednesday 20 December 2006
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