IKEA organized a special event in collaboration with the College of Architecture at Kuwait University, held at the IKEA for Business showroom. Students from the Department of Visual Design presented innovative projects for educational toys that combined entertainment with educational value. The event witnessed remarkable attendance and strong engagement with the creative ideas that reflected promising local talent.

During the event, a jury composed of faculty members from the College of Architecture and interior design experts from IKEA evaluated the projects based on creativity, functionality, safety, and educational value. Three winning projects were selected, and IKEA invited their creators to visit the brand’s headquarters and gain a closer look at the world of product design at IKEA.

Student Awatif Al-Dhafeeri won first place, while Fatima Al-Mutairi secured second place, and the third place was awarded to Aisha Al-Ajmi, in recognition of their innovative educational toy designs that incorporated local cultural elements and adhered to educational standards.

Elisa Albendea, IKEA’s Head of Market Intelligence, Consumer Insights, and Brand, emphasized the company’s strong belief in the importance of play in children’s lives, describing it as a cornerstone of learning and development. She noted that this initiative reflects IKEA’s commitment to supporting local creativity and contributing to the growth of the next generation of designers.

Dr. Sara Al-Falah, Assistant Professor at the College of Architecture, explained that students in the Department of Visual Design faced a real-world challenge during the semester: to design educational products for children that reflect local culture and support the development of the Arabic language. She expressed her gratitude to IKEA for their support and sponsorship, which helped transform these ideas into tangible prototypes.

Dr. Al-Falah also noted that this experience provided an essential platform for students to test their innovative capabilities within realistic design constraints, commending their dedication and engagement with the challenge.

The event followed a workshop organized earlier this year by IKEA for the department’s students. During the workshop, IKEA experts offered valuable insights into child development stages and the foundational principles behind the company’s product design approach—especially those concerning child safety. The experience also included a guided tour of the IKEA showroom, where students observed the practical application of these principles.

In this context, IKEA’s Sustainability Manager, Sabrina Shamas, highlighted that product design at IKEA is guided by a clear vision that places children and their safety at the core of the design process. She reaffirmed the brand’s commitment to the highest standards of quality and safety, including additional internal benchmarks that go beyond global requirements.