vindstyrka
|
designing within display constraints
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Team
In-house IKEA Home Smart
background
According to WHO, 9 out of 10 people globally breathe polluted air. IKEA's approach was to make good air quality accessible to everyone, at a low price point. Vindstyrka would be IKEA Home Smart's first product with a screen, therefore, figuring out both which type of screen to use and what it should display was central to the project.
constraints
We landed on a segmented display to keep production costs low, which comes with layout constraints. The industrial design and buttons were already defined, so the work became about making the most of screen real estate constraints and fixed inputs, giving users a clear way to navigate air quality parameters, modes, brightness levels and settings.
my role
  • Created discussion materials for interviews, conducted competitor research, and synthesized key insights.
  • Explored different visual directions and interaction patterns through paper sketches and digital prototypes.
  • Designed the final layout within the constraints of the segmented display.
visit the product

01/03

vindstyrka

Your air quality at a glance

Vindstyrka is a smart indoor air quality sensor that complements IKEA's other solutions for better air at home. It can connect to the IKEA Home Smart App, as well as directly to air purifiers in the product range, activating them if PM2.5 levels become too high.

Images borrowed from about.ikea.com

02/03

segmented displays

Problem-solving around screen real estate

(most of the process cannot be shared)

We landed on a segmented display to keep production costs low, which comes with layout constraints. The industrial design and buttons were already defined, so the work became about making the most of screen constraints and fixed inputs, giving users a clear way to navigate air quality parameters, modes, brightness levels, and settings.

Exploring different ways of utilising the "Mode Button" for different interaction patterns.

Our research pointed toward an overview approach rather than showing one parameter at a time. People wanted the information at a glance, without having to interact with the sensor.

Retrospective & Learnings

Designing for a segmented display and learning about segment sizes and their proximity was challenging, requiring a lot of problem-solving. Initially, I focused on creating visually pleasing designs but soon realized that they didn't always align with the best user experience, forcing me to rethink priorities.

Additionally, as an in-house project, I had the opportunity to work with various stakeholders, including other designers, product owners, engineers, and suppliers. This gave me a deeper understanding of balancing design with business goals, particularly when it came to price points. IKEA Home Smart's goal of being more affordable than competitors helped me learn how product development affects costs and how designers can navigate these constraints.

During my time at IKEA, I spent 50% at IKEA Home Smart, working on VINDSTYRKA and other smart products. The other 50% was spent at IKEA's classic Design Department, working on furniture and small storage solutions like VATTENKAR Desk Storage, VATTENKAR Wall Storage, and RISATORP Desk Storage.

that's all,
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© Amanda Wallgren 2026

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