IKEA has teamed up with Sonos to create the Symfonisk table lamp and bookshelf speakers launched at Milan Design Week 2019. Described as “the loudest table lamp ever”, the Symfonisk table lamp features a rounded form with a light diffuser at the top and a base that doubles as an in-built speaker. It is available as either a light-grey speaker with a white light-diffuser or a black speaker with a gold light-diffuser.
With Symfonisk table lamp with WiFi speaker, IKEA and Sonos have created a great sounding, great looking piece of furniture that blends into the home in a new way, making it easier to furnish with sound. “We knew from the start that we wanted to challenge the traditional high-tech aesthetics. The lamp-speaker partly springs from the idea of the fireplace – one single piece that spreads warm light as well as sound,” says Iina Vuorivirta, one of the designers of Symfonisk lamp-speaker at IKEA of Sweden.
While IKEA stands for the home furnishing knowledge and the design direction, Sonos has contributed with their profound sound skills. “Our design had to be 100% true to the quality Sonos stands for, without any compromises. At the same time, we wanted to create something completely new,” says Iina Vuorivirta. “Sound is a powerful part of our identity – whether it’s hearing your baby’s laughter or listening to that 80s hit your mom loved, it is a deeply emotional part of all our lives,” says Tad Toulis, Vice President of Design at Sonos.
“This partnership has always been about our two companies’ shared passion, values and knowledge. IKEA and Sonos recognize the importance of great sound and its potential to positively affect life at home for the many people. We set out to create products neither of us would or could develop independently. To this end, since music and light are both instrumental in creating a sense of place, we developed a product that can deliver both – the Symfonisk lamp speaker,” says Tad Toulis.
For IKEA, the sound venture is part of a bigger journey towards smarter homes that started with a wireless charging range in 2015 and that keeps progressing, one step at a time.
“Creating atmosphere and convenience are central in the creation of the IKEA Home Smart concept, and the Symfonisk range are perfectly designed with that in mind. IKEA is always looking for ideas that improve life at home. By integrating technology with home furnishing products and solutions we can do that in an even better way,” says Björn Block, Business Leader for IKEA Home Smart at IKEA of Sweden.
Also in the collection is the Symfonisk bookshelf speaker, a wall-mounted, rectangular speaker that can be placed horizontally and used as a bookshelf, or hung on a kitchen rail by its hook. Available in light grey or black, the speaker can also be placed on a shelf and used as a bookend.
The new Symfonisk speakers will be on view during the Milan Design Week at Torneria Tortona, Via Novi 5, in Milan from 9-14 Apri.
