Meaning-makingthrough Conceptual blending
To better understand how new product meanings are formed, we analyzed IKEA hacking projects through the lens of conceptual blending theory, a cognitive linguistics framework that explains how the human mind combines distinct concepts to produce creative insights.
This theoretical approach allowed us to map how different conceptual spaces, such as a product’s original function and a newly imagined use, interact and blend to form a transformed meaning.
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Figure 1
Blended Theory in meaning change
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Spark “A-Ha!” Moments
We conducted hands-on IKEA hacking workshops to observe the creative process in action. Participants engaged in morphological experimentation, which is trial-and-error physical combinations of product components based on shared shapes or forms.
These experiments often led to “A-ha!” moments, where a new function suddenly emerged. Physical manipulation served as a catalyst for creativity, although the available product components sometimes limited the scope of meaning transformation.
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Hacking process of 'A dog accessory holder'
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A dog accessory holder, it is made from 1 FLISAT book display, 1 set of SMASKA training beaker, and 5 BASTIS hooks.
What Facilitates and Hinders Innovation
Our observations revealed that certain factors, like physical juxtaposition of parts, promote innovative blending by making potential functions visible.
Conversely, the provided products themselves could restrict creativity when their shapes or functions constrained the possible blends. Personal background (e.g., culture, memories, lifestyle) also influenced the direction and type of functional blends participants achieved.
Design Implications
The study confirms that conceptual blending theory can be a valuable tool for identifying and evaluating innovation in everyday design practices like product hacking.
However, because our workshops took place in a controlled studio setting, the process and outcomes may differ from what happens in a home environment. Future research could expand to diverse demographic and cultural contexts to deepen our understanding of how meaning-making unfolds in natural settings.
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Figure 4
Participants are finding a similar form as a driver of product hacking, combining two different concepts
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A tea table, made from 1 FROSTA stool, 1 FRAKTA tarpaulin rope, and 1 BITTERGURKA plant pot hanger
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No name, made from 1 FROSTA stool, 4 BITTERGURKA plant pot hanger, and 1 TJUSIG hanger
Breaking, Rebuilding, Reinventing:
The Creative World of Product Hacking
Design is no longer confined to the hands of trained professionals. The rise of DIY culture, 3D printing, and the broader maker movement has given birth to product hacking: an everyday design practice where existing products are reused, remade, or re-manufactured to create entirely new meanings.
In this study, we examined product hacking as a form of design-driven innovation in meaning, focusing on how these transformations emerge in the context of IKEA product modifications.
Paper Information
Han, G. E., Jeong, Y., & Self, J. A. (2021). Where does Everyday Design Innovation come from?: Case studies in IKEA Product Hacking.
Keywords
Design-driven Innovation
IKEA Hacking
Everyday Design
Conceptual Blending Theory