VARDAGEN
A small and handy knife made for small jobs in the kitchen. The stainless steel is easy to maintain, and the flexibility of the blade is helpful when peeling round-shaped fruits and vegetables.
Story
Designing for the tastes of people around the world
Do you sometimes cook dishes from other cultures? Then you’re part of an international trend called transculturalism. It basically means that global cooking and eating habits are a lot more similar than you may think. How can we cater for this trend? We designed the VARDAGEN series with products that can be used in multiple ways. In Swedish, VARDAGEN means “every day”, which is just how the products are meant to be used, no matter where you live.
“Consumers have access to cultural diversity in cooking and eating from all over the world,” explains Ina Tidbeck Sjöblom, who helped create the products. “They want to taste the best of all cultures, which means that it’s not only in Asia that we need eating products for sushi.”
Creating products for all our differences (and similarities)
The VARDAGEN products are designed to turn differences into similarities. Like the eggcup. “We did it in a shape that it’s more like a very small dip bowl,” explains Ina. “So it’s also for Asian eating, you know the bowl where you put chili paste and other condiments.” Another bowl has just the right size and shape to be a rice bowl in Asia, but it can also be used as a side-salad or cereal bowl.
Answering the global demand for durability
VARDAGEN is uniquely suited to the global market—catering to the different needs of eaters. One thing people all over the world seem to agree on is the importance of durability. “We know from all the studies and research we do that people don’t want to buy and throw away things, they want to buy something that lasts,” says Ina. That’s why VARDAGEN is made from durable and sustainable materials, like glass, porcelain and stainless steel. That means, just like the name VARDAGEN suggests, they’ll be useful every day for many days to come.
Designer thoughts
Designers Pia Amsell and Barbro Berlin
”We designed VARDAGEN knives inspired by sturdy old-fashioned kitchen knives with a robust and timeless feel. Because cooking is a craft, we gave the knives honest, simple lines that give good grip and easy handling. Thanks to the design, they have many years of use in them and blend easily in with other kitchen utensils. But most of all, we want these knives to encourage cooking and create lots of delicious food memories.”
Function/solution
Functional and well-balanced
All the knives in VARDAGEN knife series are sturdy with a traditional and timeless feel. There’s a knife for most needs and functions – like a bread knife, peeling knife and chef’s knife. The knives are designed for balance, easy cleaning, solid grip and good handling. Sharpening the blades is easy too, so that you can use them for as long as you like.
Quality/durability
Sharpness that lasts
VARDAGEN knife series is made for many years of kitchen use and fun. They’re made of molybdenum-vanadium steel, which makes the blade hard and strong enough to flex without breaking. It’s this special, hard-wearing type of steel that keeps the knives sharp for longer – so that you can cut, peel and chop all you want. The sturdy shape is inspired by old-fashioned knives for a timeless and traditional look.
Material
What is stainless steel?
Stainless steel is found in everything from building structures and cars to sinks and knives. It’s easy to see why it has so many uses. Stainless steel is hard and durable and has good resistance to corrosion – namely rust. It generally has a low nickel content, and for IKEA products we mainly use stainless steel that’s nickel-free. Like many other metals, it can be recycled again and again to become new, hardwearing things – without losing its valuable properties.
Goes well with
Ideas and inspiration
Getting crafty: using veggies to dip dye curtains and paint wood furniture
They’re loaded full of vitamins and other good stuff, but who would have guessed the creative possibilities of veggies? From dip-dyeing with cabbage to stamping with sweet potatoes, enjoy these two weekend projects featuring everyday fresh produce.
