Inge Andersson

Inge Andersson (born 1940) is a Swedish furniture designer known for his sculptural, experimental approach that often challenges conventions of form, material, and construction. Educated in Sweden, Andersson emerged in the late 20th century as a distinctive voice within Scandinavian design, combining the region’s tradition of craftsmanship with a more playful and conceptual design language.

He is best known for the Vilbert Chair (1993), designed for IKEA, a bold and graphic plywood chair whose angular, almost architectural form stands in sharp contrast to traditional Scandinavian furniture. With its strong colors and expressive geometry, Vilbert has since become a cult design object and a symbol of 1990s postmodern experimentation within mass-produced furniture.

Beyond Vilbert, Andersson has designed a range of chairs, seating systems, and furniture objects that explore balance, structure, and visual tension, often using wood and plywood in unconventional ways. His work frequently blurs the line between furniture and sculpture, emphasizing design as an intellectual and artistic process as much as a functional one.

Inge Andersson’s designs stand out within Scandinavian design history for their originality and courage, demonstrating how Nordic design can move beyond restraint and minimalism while still maintaining clarity, craftsmanship, and purpose.