Thesis assignment | The Kitchen of Tomorrow at Inter IKEA Group

Älmhult, Skåne County, Sweden -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

05 Feb, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

07 Nov, 25

Experience

0 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Analytical, Curiosity, Visionary Mindset, User Needs Identification, Market Research, Stakeholder Engagement, Workshop Facilitation, Strategic Recommendation, English Fluency

Industry

Furniture and Home Furnishings Manufacturing

Description

Job Description Hej Master thesis student, Do you want to furnish the future to make room for everyone? With us, you can feel at home at work while sharing that feeling with millions of people around the world. We encourage you to stand up for yourself and others, creating an environment where everyone feels welcome. We invite you to open new doors, embrace mistakes, and grow from them. As our Master thesis student, you’ll have many opportunities to try things you’ve never done before. We are now looking for a student who wants to write their Master thesis at IKEA of Sweden from mid-January to June 2026. Your key assignment is to identify and define the most interesting use case when integrating connectivity into home appliances, focusing on real user needs that simplify everyday life. The Kitchen of Tomorrow: Unlocking the Power of Connected Appliances in Everyday Life The work will start from internal input and expand through market research, academic collaboration, and stakeholder engagement. You will investigate how connectivity can create meaningful value for users and generate new business opportunities for IKEA. Key activities: Understanding the current limitations and opportunities within our current product portfolio. Scanning the market for trends, technologies, and competitor strategies related to connected appliances. Facilitating workshops with university experts and company stakeholders to validate and refine ideas. Identifying and evaluating potential user cases that align with customer needs and business goals. Recommending the most promising user case with a clear rationale and strategic implications. The deliverables are: User case framework: A structured portfolio of potential user cases. Evaluation based on customer perceived value and business impact. Strategic recommendation: Final proposal of the most promising user case. Justification and suggested next steps for development. An end report written in English What we’d like you to bring to the table We think that you: Have a visionary mindset, you imagine life 10 to 20 years from now and how people will live, interact, and enjoy their kitchens. Are passionate about the kitchen life at home, where convenience, functionality and socialization matter. You carry the pulse of your generation. Are curious, analytical and independent. Are probably studying Computer Science, Interaction Design or similar. Are fluent in English. More information Inter IKEA Group is the group of companies that connects IKEA franchisees with range development and suppliers and aligns the overall IKEA strategic direction. Every day, we strive to develop, produce, and sell products and services that are affordable and accessible to everyone. With us, you contribute to building a democratic brand and workplace that has a positive impact on both the planet and people's lives. This assignment belongs to IKEA of Sweden, more specifically the Range Area Kitchen and Appliances. The work will be carried out remotely, but you will make a few visits to our office in Älmhult. Please note: To apply for this thesis assignment, you must be enrolled in a thesis course at a Swedish university. We welcome your application Get ready to assemble something new! We look forward to receiving your application by the 23rd of November. Please submit both your CV and motivation letter in English. We might close the recruitment process at an earlier stage depending on selection/matching candidates, so don’t wait to apply! In case you are two students wishing to write this thesis together we ask you to please submit one application each and clearly state the other person’s name your wish to collaborate with. At IKEA, we are looking for people who believe everyone deserves a seat at the table. You’re welcome no matter where you come from, what you believe, or what you look like. We don’t even care how you have furnished your home. We’re interested in you simply because you’re you. We believe that people’s different perspectives, backgrounds, and personalities make us better at understanding our customers’ dreams and needs. If you have a special need that requires accommodation in the recruitment process, just let us know.

Responsibilities

The main responsibility is to identify and define use cases for integrating connectivity into home appliances, focusing on user needs. This includes conducting market research, facilitating workshops, and providing strategic recommendations based on findings.