When the founder of a brand suddenly dies, vision either transforms into legacy or fades into oblivion.

In the story of IKEA, this moment came on a crisp January day in 2018.

Just two months later, the perfect opportunity presented itself in the form of a crucial report published by the United Nations.

As it turned out, much like the brand heritage, bees, are also at risk of extinction.

And when bees go extinct, we will all follow them closely.

Fortunately, IKEA operates on a principle called democratic design.

They create inclusive, affordable, sustainable, and high-quality products using forms that follow function.

Inspired by the structure of honeycombs, they once developed a technology that provides the core of their best-selling LACK product line.

Now, the time has come to return the favor.

The 10 principles of product design provide the tools for the development of any object of use from chairs to websites, including bee hotels.

• good design is innovative

• good design makes a product useful

• good design is aesthetic

• good design makes a product understandable

• good design is unobtrusive

• good design is honest

• good design is long-lasting

• good design is thorough down to the last detail

• good design is environmentally friendly

• good design is as little design as possible

Luckily for IKEA, and unfortunately for pollinators, existing bee hotels severely violate one or more of these principles.

Most don't comply with the needs of pollinators regarding material, size, dryness, sun exposure, and comfort.

Others appeal to the bees but look very unpleasant to people.

Especially considering that around 20% of the population has some degree of trypophobia.

The beautiful ones only serve the function of aesthetics.

A few serve all functions but are so difficult to clean that they only last for a single season.

The opportunity for the optimal product to conquer the market is still wide open.

The reach of a product is directly tied to its relatability.

Versatility helps a design resonate with a diverse audience.

This versatility depends on the level of sophistication in the design process.

Effective design meets the actual needs of users and broadens appeal.

The effectiveness of any design can be easily assessed by going through the steps of the hierarchy of product design:

• functionality asks – does it work?

• reliability asks – does it work when needed?

• usability asks – is it easy and efficient to operate?

• proficiency asks – can the user experience be intuitively enhanced?

• creativity asks – what additional functions can the product serve?

Whether the product answers these questions sufficiently, defines its quality and ultimately, its potential for success.

To be considered good and therefore optimal design, the new product must:

• transcend the abilities of existing bee hotels and offer a better solution to what the original function requires, for both bees and people.

• be high-quality, durable, and functional, convey emotion, intention, value, and meaning in a pleasant manner, while staying free from frippery, obscenity, or violence.