This is the biggest point that so many of these articles miss. Aka "It's the economy, stupid." Scandinavian design is clean, functional design that can also be

This is the biggest point that so many of these articles miss. Aka "It's the economy, stupid." Scandinavian design is clean, functional design that can also be produced at a reasonable price. Any article that takes a "Scandinavian design (excluding IKEA of course, ha ha ha poor people)" bent deserves to be ignored. You know why people buy ugly "American" furniture? Because the alternative is too expensive! The solution to an ugly $500 couch is not a $10,000 minimalist birch piece of furniture. PS: The iterative design process of IKEA with an emphasis on eliminating cost without compromising function is a marvel of engineering. There have been a few stories, but here's one: http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303376904579134743769761378 http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB100014240527023033769045791347...