IKEA & little sun introduce their versatile, solar

A few years ago, IKEA and Little Sun teamed up to launch ‘SAMMANLÄNKAD’, a remarkable partnership that resulted in the development of helpful solar gadgets for everyday use. Founded in 2012 by artist Olafur Eliasson and engineer Frederik Ottesen, Little Sun is dedicated to providing energy to communities without electricity around the world — a figure that reaches more than 1.1 billion people. The ‘SAMMANLÄNKAD’ project returns today with two new solar-powered products: a table lamp and a portable lighting piece, both launching in selected IKEA markets in April 2023.

all images courtesy Little Sun

‘The collaboration between Little Sun and IKEA makes the power of the sun tangible in beautiful and purposeful design objects. ‘SAMMANLÄNKAD’ is designed to make people experience solar energy in a life at home context, spotlighting its potential as an alternative source of energy to power everyday objects,’ writes IKEA (see more here).

‘If we are to transition to a world powered by renewable energy in the next decade, we need everyone to recognize the opportunity of solar energy. Sunlight is seemingly invisible, but solar energy allows us to make the invisible visible,’ adds Olafur Eliasson. ‘The collaboration with IKEA supports our mission to raise awareness for energy access and reminds us that we have the potential to co-shape our world,‘ he continues.

table lamp inspired by the earth’s angle and movement around the sun

For the LED solar-powered table lamp, IKEA and Little Sun (more here) took cues from how the earth angles itself and moves around the sun — resulting in a half-sphere-shaped light source embedded into a reflective metal plate to emphasize its shining quality. Completing the setup are two metallic ‘rings’ evoking earth’s planetary motion. The metal frame is easily adjustable to allow for versatile use, either as a pendant or table lamp for any home or interior setting.

The portable lamp, meanwhile, works wonders for outdoor use. Thanks to a yellow strap, users can hold or hang it on a window or backpack during daylight hours for charging. Both lamps are equipped with solar panels and rechargeable batteries. When not exposed to sunlight, the table lamp can be charged through an outlet using its USB-A and USB-C ports. With fully charged batteries, the light battery can also help boost a mobile phone’s battery.

‘Design, beauty, and simplicity together make these products something that people will have in their lives, giving them the power to embrace the idea of solar energy powering our future,’ reflects Felix Hallwachs, Managing Director of Little Sun. ‘It’s only a small nudge that we can deliver, and many nudges are needed. But we are excited to see how much solar energy we can spread in the world.’

portable lamp ideal for outdoor use