From Prototyping to Perching: Inside the Design of Ikea’s New Xbox-Inspired Stool
The intersection of gaming culture and home decor has long been a challenge for furniture designers, but Ikea’s latest collaboration with Xbox is aiming to bridge the gap with an unexpected centerpiece: a stool designed to look like a console thumbstick.
The creative journey behind this piece was far from linear. Ikea designers, led by the creative team behind the collection, began by iterating through various materials, including cork and wood. According to designer Wahl, the process involved extensive 3D printing to perfect the geometry of the base’s radius. One early iteration featured a completely spherical base; while it proved unstable, Wahl noted it offered a unique “fun factor,” forcing users to remain mindful and engaged while seated.
The final product, however, balances novelty with surprising comfort. James Ledbetter, who has been instrumental in the partnership, was struck by the stool’s ergonomics. “Oh my, this is very comfortable,” Ledbetter remarks. “It feels good, and it can accommodate multiple playing postures. I can’t tell you how many people are like, ‘I gotta have that thumbstick stool.’ It’s just a delighter.”
To anchor the piece firmly in Xbox DNA, the design team incorporated subtle hardware cues. The base features rubber grip rings that mirror the texture of swappable Elite controller components.
The attention to detail extends beyond aesthetics to include “Easter eggs” designed to delight eagle-eyed consumers. Following the tradition of Xbox consoles—which famously hide the message “Hello from Seattle” in their chassis—Ikea has embedded a secret message into the stool’s assembly process. Once constructed, owners will find the phrase “Hej from Älmhult,” a nod to the small Swedish town that serves as Ikea’s global headquarters.
This hidden greeting is just one of many surprises scattered throughout the broader gaming collection, which is set to launch in stores and online this fall.
Despite the upcoming launch, both teams are already looking toward the future. Ledbetter hints that the collaboration produced a wealth of concepts that didn’t make the initial cut, suggesting that a second range could eventually be in the cards. “There’s a bunch of really good ideas that we just didn’t have the bandwidth to make,” he says. “I don’t want to give those away, because they’re interesting.”
For Ledbetter, the partnership represents a personal full-circle moment. A self-described “Ikea fan,” he recalls being first in line at the opening of the Renton, Washington, store in the late 1990s. Today, his own home is a blend of high-end design and Ikea staples—a testament to the brand’s versatility that he hopes the new gaming collection will embody for players everywhere.
