What If IKEA Was a Dating App: Episode 2

What if the world’s biggest brands ditched their line of business and tried something entirely different?

What would their ads look like if they changed the product, but not the spirit? What would the main message of those ads be?

That’s what “What if Brands Switched Careers” is all about — reimagining the most iconic brands in totally unrelated industries, and stretching their identity into new territories.

In each edition, we’ll take one brand and show what it could look like if they did something else. If that sounds cool consider subscribing so you don’t miss any updates!

In our first episode, we imagined Nike’s ads if they were a bank.

This time, IKEA will become a business helping you build something other than your home — a relationship.

Let’s assemble this one, piece by piece.

Today’s Brand: IKEA

The brand that brought us modern minimalism, meatballs, and mild couples’ therapy, testing compatibility by building bookshelves together.

But what if IKEA stopped helping you furnish your home — and started helping you find someone to share it with?

What if they were a dating app instead — helping us swipe right, and argue over assembly later.

Would love come with an instruction manual on this app, too? Well, let’s find out piece by piece!

Ad Concept 1: Love doesn’t come pre-assembled.

Tagline: “Love doesn’t come pre-assembled.”

Scene: Two people meet at a coffee shop, obviously on their first date

Wondering what to say, they decide to open the IKEA app they found each other on and different objects and words start popping out of it in the form of puzzle pieces — favorite songs, a bottle of line, dream destinations, etc.

They look at each other, smile, and start building the puzzle.

Voiceover: “We give you the parts. You build the connection. Because love doesn’t come pre-assembled!”

Ad Concept 2: Love’s Luck, Compatibility is Science

Tagline: Love’s Luck, Compatibility is Science

Scene: Showing different match pairs showing their calculated compatibility and the outcome after a few dates

Voiceover: We take personal characteristics seriously. Because love might be luck, but compatibility is science.

Ad Concept 3: Heart in Pieces?

Tagline: IKEA Dating. Love, piece by piece.

Scene: Someone sits alone on the floor, surrounded by shattered pieces of a heart.

They open the IKEA Dating App. They see the following instructions.

Step 1: Forgive yourself.

Step 2: Start small.

Step 3: Swipe someone who makes you laugh.

Cut to them the shattered pieces starting to rearrange with each swipe

Voiceover:
“Your heart’s in pieces? We’ll help you rearrange them! IKEA Dating. Love, piece by piece.”

The Wrap-Up

Would we trust IKEA to run our love lives?

Honestly… yes.

If love really is something you build together, then we can’t think of a better brand to help out with this!

Next time, we’re giving another iconic brand a total career pivot. Will you be here to see it?

Until next time keep swiping, keep building, and hit that subscribe button!