The iconic IKEA Billy bookcase served as a fundamental testbed for Xbox console design, according to Carl Ledbetter, Xbox's head of design. This surprising influence stems from a shared design philosophy between the two companies, focusing on functionality and how products integrate into the home environment.
Ledbetter, who has been with Microsoft for over 30 years and was instrumental in designing consoles like the Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, revealed this detail ahead of the launch of the YXSTABY collection, a nine-piece furniture and accessory line born from a partnership between Xbox and IKEA. The collection is set to be available this fall.
"The piece of furniture that we use as our de facto test for any console design is the Billy bookcase from Ikea," Ledbetter stated in an exclusive interview. "So believe it or not, it's a natural fit. I’ve spent all my time [at Xbox] looking at input, controllers, the console, how things fit into the home. [That] matters when you design a console, [the] horizontal and vertical position."
The collaboration extends beyond a simple co-branding exercise, aiming to enhance the gaming experience through thoughtfully designed furnishings. The YXSTABY collection includes items such as chairs with dedicated controller pockets, stools inspired by thumbsticks, a D-pad shaped controller stand, and X-shaped pillows. A key challenge in this partnership was adapting Xbox's product design principles to IKEA's flat-pack model, requiring assembly for the consumer.
"Xbox and Ikea, they both have scale," Ledbetter explained. "We designed for millions of players around the world. Ikea’s already there. The thing that is different, at least for my team and designing this line, was taking into consideration the flat pack. So Ikea, of course [uses a flat pack] in order to ship these things all around the world. When you buy a console, the most you have to do is plug it in and turn it on. But in this case, you have some assembly required."
Ledbetter emphasized that the core design tenets of functionality and immersion remain paramount. "First and foremost, the product's got to work. It has to solve real problems. Whether it's a controller or a piece of furniture, it's the same thing. The second thing is, for gamers, particularly when they're playing Xbox games at home, it's about immersion. It’s in the game you see on the screen and in the controller you hold in your hand. But if you think about it, it's everything around you."
Iconic Xbox elements heavily influenced the collection's aesthetic. The controller, in particular, provided inspiration for several items, including the D-pad platter and pillow, and the thumbstick stool. The design team focused on incorporating these recognizable features through subtle details, described as "second level read, third level read," intended for dedicated fans to discover.
Accessibility was also a significant consideration in the YXSTABY line's development, drawing from Ledbetter's work on the Xbox Adaptive Controller. The gaming chair is designed to accommodate different postures, including an intense, forward-leaning stance and a more relaxed position where a pillow can be used as arm support. The monitor stand offers ergonomic benefits by positioning screens at eye level and includes built-in storage for accessories like keyboards, laptops, and even an Xbox Series S, alongside mounts for headsets and controllers with charging capabilities.
Ledbetter expressed a desire to further explore Xbox-inspired architectural design, drawing a parallel to Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater for a potential Xbox-themed home. The YXSTABY collection will be available at IKEA stores and online starting this fall.