This summer has been bookended with playful designs by Gustaf Westman. First, Paris and the internet were wowed by Westman’s hilarious, eccentric bubble-gum pink baguette holder – a design so unapologetically silly it’s impossible not to smile.
And now, as summer winds down, Westman has revealed his next act: a collaboration with IKEA. Launching September 9th, the playful 12-piece collection is a perfect example of both Westman and IKEA’s shared fascination with elevating everyday rituals through experimentation.
In Gustaf Westman’s world, design is never too serious. The Swedish creative infuses everyday objects and interiors with playful shapes, bold colors, and a sense of humor – proving that function and fun can coexist beautifully. So of course a collaboration with IKEA feels natural and cohesive.
The first object of the collection turns the iconic Swedish meatball into a bigger star with a blue porcelain plate designed to serve the tasty golden brown spheres center stage. Its elongated design arranges them neatly in a row. “The design is simple, lining up the meatballs so each one is visible, like they’re sitting on little thrones. And while it was created with meatballs in mind, it works just as well for many other dishes,” says Westman.
As someone who has built a career designing around specific food shapes and thoughtfully nestling them into their own little nooks, I’m delighted by the versatility of this piece. The possibilities are endless: the plate doubles as a tray for round-bottomed olives or beet-pickled quail eggs. Flip the function, and the center channel becomes the perfect spot for butter or aioli, surrounded by arancini or warm focaccia. However it’s used, this is a dish worth sharing.
One request: more colors, please.
To learn more about Gustaf Westman’s upcoming collaboration with IKEA, visit ikea.com.
Photography courtesy of IKEA.
