Way back in June, IKEA announced its next big collaboration with viral designer of the moment Gustaf Westman. The Swedish designer, the name behind the wavy mirrors and 'chunky' tableware that dominated the 2019–2020 golden era of dopamine decor, makes for a natural partner for the innovative Swedish design brand, so much so we're surprised we didn't see it coming.
However, that was all the information we had, and this article started life out as some guesswork about what exactly the collaboration could include, based on Gustaf's existing work. If you have Instagram, you’ve seen his work — most likely on the floors of content creator apartments, bloated and puffy, as if it were inflated with a balloon pump.
However, with the collection launching on September 9th, we've just had a sneak peek at the first product from the collaboration, and let's just say it's niche but brilliant, and based on one of IKEA's best products — the meatball.
If it were April 1st, we might consider this to be a Fool's Day prank, but actually, given this is the designer behind such wonders as the wine glass table and the baguette carrier, it's a natural headline for the collection.
But, aside from what it looks like, and how to use it (we're not sure we'd have figured it out without a helpful shot of the IKEA instructions), that's all we know. Not how much it costs, nor whether there will be a matching tote for our lingonberry jam. However, we do know that Gustaf's collection will be listed under the VINTERFINT line, based on Gustaf's use of hashtags, which is traditionally a line of winter-themed accessories.
Still, we're waiting with baited breath about what else we can expect. But, what we do know, is that it will mean more than just feel-good dinnerware. “By crafting experiences that resonate across generations and cultures, we draw closer to new audiences while celebrating both differences and similarities that unite people,” said Magdalena Walther, product developer at IKEA of Sweden.
And that part — new audiences — is key. IKEA hasn’t had this kind of buzz since Virgil Abloh’s 2019 collection, or maybe Daniel Arsham’s 2021 drop. Collaborating with a designer beloved by Emma Chamberlain–adjacent internet cool girls (and, yes, Trisha Paytas and Nara Smith, who’ve both praised his viral chunky plates) is a smart move.
Gustaf is deep in the zeitgeist, and this feels like a recharged chapter for IKEA.
WHAT WE KNOW
Here’s what we do know: Gustaf Westman’s designs are expensive — a cup and saucer? £70. A mini mirror will run you £2,340. So when IKEA announced a collab with the Swedish designer known for his playful, wiggly silhouettes, the collective hope was clear: finally, a version of Gustaf that won’t bankrupt us.
Very little else is confirmed. No price list. No look book. No official release date. (The sole caption on the teaser post reads only: “Reimagining celebrations this autumn.”)
But if IKEA’s past designer partnerships are any indication — affordable, joyful, and true to the brand's Scandi sensibilities — we’re betting this one will follow suit.
Gustaf Westman's designs disrupted the dining table scene back in 2019.
Some educated guesses at the lineup: popcorn furniture (Gustaf also popularized this finish that kind that resembles a stucco ceiling mid-reno), puffy ceramics, undulating edges, and dopamine-inducing tableware made for mingling. It is a collab built around celebration, after all.
And given Gustaf’s love of bold brights, the color palette will likely skew fairly punchy and effervescent.
Curly, unexpected, colorful — all things we can likely expect.
Gustaf Westman’s style isn’t for everyone — but if you’re partial to the kind of objects that typically populate the homes of cool people in Copenhagen, Paris, or Brooklyn, this is the IKEA collab worth lining up for. (Even if your tent isn’t Gustaf Westman x Mercedes-branded.)
You’ll either love it or hate it. But we’re willing to bet it’ll sell out.
The good news? One: You’ve got time — the launch isn’t until September or October 2025. And two: if you’re feeling impatient, we’ve rounded up a few of Gustaf’s greatest hits to tide you over.
The chunky plate that started it all — reimagined in a surprisingly restrained black. Still Gustaf, but moodier.
This chunky espresso cup and saucer set brightens up any morning. It's a technicolor duo that stacks atop your puffiest plates like a dream.
The mirrors are an investment, but this micro version makes the statement a little more digestible. Just 10 inches wide and ideal for a vanity.
This mirror deserves a starring role in your next Instagram story. Hang it, lean it.
This side table’s exposed wood grain and playful silhouette strike a nice contrast, ready to anchor any glossy tableware you throw its way.
Give your best taper candles the pedestal they deserve. This surreal base — resembling something flat pushing into a balloon — brings the right dose of drama to the dinner table.
In case you missed it, IKEA launched the most charming floral plates for spring. They layer into a daffodil, and somehow, look even cuter in real life.
