Sat, Nov 22, 2025 10:06
Nov 22, 2025
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1 min read
The video from Primal Space below gives a fascinating insight into Ikea’s history, furniture manufacturing, engineering practices, and cost-saving focus. The video shows the evolution of the LACK coffee table, highlighting its use of non-warping particle board, honeycomb paper, and the development of hollow but strong legs.
We are gaining inexpensive furniture, while also receiving a simulacra of a strong, enduring table.
Authors
Wouter Van Rossem is a researcher on the intersection between social science and computer science. He previously worked on the European Research Council (ERC) funded project, Processing Citizenship, where he investigated how data infrastructures for population processing co-produce citizens, Europe, and territory. He completed his PhD at the University of Twente in the Netherlands and is still working on publications stemming from these impactful projects. In addition to his academic pursuits as a PhD at the University of Twente in the Netherlands, he brings a diverse background as a software engineer, having worked in various companies and at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre in Italy. His diverse background, spanning both theoretical and hands-on knowledge, reflects his keen interest in exploring the intricate interconnections between technology and society.