7 decades of IKEA catalogues

Actually pretty remarkable that IKEA’s catalogues become instantly recognisable in content in only their 12th year of existence. If that’s not a mark of a strong visual identity, I don’t know what is.

The 1961 edition.

IKEA catalogue from 1961 – the twelfth edition – is the first that is instantly identifiable as such. It set down a template for future catalogues.

The beforetimes.

The first six editions of the IKEA catalogue, from 1950 through 1955: trippy and abstract; monochrome.

Post-1961.

The eight editions following 1961, from 1962 through 1969: already iconic.