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Learning from Modular Design: How To Keep Innovating

Updated: 4 days ago

What do a Swedish furniture giant and a Danish toy company have in common? Both IKEA and LEGO have mastered the art of modular design, and this approach has been pivotal to their sustained success and innovation.


Modular design enables adaptability, scalability, and creativity, and it’s a concept that has applications far beyond furniture and toys—including in technology, fashion, and more. In this article, we will explore the principles of modular design, how IKEA and LEGO keep innovating, and how this concept is reshaping industries from tech to fashion.



The Core Principles of Modular Design

At its core, modular design revolves around the idea of creating components that can be assembled, rearranged, or replaced independently. It prioritises flexibility, scalability, and customisation, which provides significant benefits for both manufacturers and users. For manufacturers, it enables efficient production and a simplified supply chain. For users, it offers a level of customisation and personalisation that is both empowering and practical.





Consider IKEA, for instance. Their furniture is designed in standardised components that can be easily assembled, disassembled, and reconfigured, allowing users to adapt their purchases to different spaces and uses over time. The well-known “BILLY” bookcase is a perfect example—it can be personalised with additional shelves, doors, or decorative elements, offering a simple yet flexible storage solution. This modular approach is part of what makes IKEA a global household name.





Similarly, LEGO has taken modular design to a new level with its iconic building blocks. Each piece is designed to work seamlessly with others, giving users an almost infinite array of possibilities to build, rebuild, and innovate. The beauty of LEGO lies in the simplicity of its modules—standardised blocks that, in the hands of an imaginative user, can become anything from a spaceship to a skyscraper. This creativity-driven, modular approach ensures that LEGO remains a beloved brand across generations.



Scalability, User Customisation, and Sustainability

One of the key advantages of modular design is its scalability. Companies like IKEA and LEGO are able to scale their offerings in a way that caters to different user needs while maintaining consistency and reducing costs. For instance, IKEA’s “PLATSA” storage system allows customers to choose from a variety of components to create a customised storage solution that suits their individual requirements, whether they need a small closet or an entire wall unit.


User customisation is another hallmark of modular design. By allowing customers to create their own solutions from standardised parts, companies foster creativity and a deeper sense of ownership. LEGO has embraced this philosophy wholeheartedly, encouraging users to think beyond instructions and create their own designs.


This freedom of customisation is one of the reasons both LEGO and IKEA products appeal to such a wide audience—everyone can find a way to make the products work for them.

In terms of sustainability, modular design also holds immense potential.


IKEA has made significant strides towards sustainability by incorporating modular principles that allow for easy repair and part replacement, thus extending product lifespans and reducing waste. With modular components, instead of discarding an entire product, users can simply replace a damaged or outdated part, which makes modularity a key component in the journey towards a circular economy.



Modular Thinking Beyond Furniture and Toys

The benefits of modular design are not limited to physical products like furniture and toys; modular thinking is transforming other industries as well. One area where modularity has been particularly exciting is in the tech industry.





The concept of a modular smartphone, popularised by Google’s ambitious “Project Ara,” promised to let users swap out components like the camera, battery, or processor to easily upgrade or repair their devices. Although Google ultimately shelved Project Ara, it highlighted the possibilities of reducing electronic waste and extending product life—goals that are more relevant now than ever.



Conclusion

Modular design has proven itself to be an enduring approach to innovation, with benefits that span scalability, user customisation, and sustainability. Companies like IKEA and LEGO have shown that modularity can foster creativity and engagement while offering practical, real-world benefits. Beyond furniture and toys, modular thinking has applications in technology, fashion, architecture, and beyond—each promising a future where products are more adaptable, customisable, and environmentally friendly.


As we continue to face challenges like resource scarcity and growing consumer demand for personalisation, modular design offers a promising path forward. How might you apply modular thinking to your own projects? Whether you’re in tech, fashion, or product design, there’s something to learn from IKEA, LEGO, and the innovators who see modularity as the key to unlocking endless possibilities.


What are your thoughts on modular design? Have you seen it applied in creative ways in your industry? Share your thoughts in the comments below!


-The Design Zindagi Team


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