two swedish design icons in collaboration
IKEA teams up with Swedish designer Gustaf Westman to launch a collaboration that begins with the humble meatball as an unexpected hero. The first object unveiled is a porcelain plate designed to give the familiar dish, in all its many forms, a new stage. The full twelve-piece collection will debut on September 9th.
The design brand’s now-iconic meatballs are a symbol of Swedish tradition and an international success story, with one billion served annually across its restaurants worldwide. While the typical Swedish dish itself has evolved over. time, IKEA sees the same potential for design as it does for flavor. ‘We’ve always believed that the little things in life — like a perfectly round Swedish meatball — deserve big attention,’ says Maria O’Brian, Creative Leader at IKEA of Sweden.
images courtesy Gustaf Westman
gustaf westman crafts a Plate with Purpose
The first piece from the IKEA x Gustaf Westman collaboration is a porcelain serving plate shaped to highlight the spherical form of the meatball. Its elongated design arranges them neatly in a celebratory row, a subtle gesture that turns everyday dining into something festive. O’Brian notes, ‘This collaboration is about taking the traditions of gathering in the home and reimagining them through playful and unexpected designs. Partnering with Gustaf Westman was the perfect way to do that.’
Gustaf Westman’s distinctively playful approach to form comes through in this design. Known for bringing humor and character to functional objects, he explains: ‘I love designing objects for a specific function – it brings a touch of humor and makes them instantly easy to grasp. In Sweden, meatballs mean Christmas, and this plate is my way of honoring that tradition.’
IKEA and Gustaf Westman tease their first collaboration with a porcelain plate
ikea’s ongoing interest in experimentation
Though designed for IKEA with meatballs in mind, Gustaf Westman’s porcelain plate adapts easily to other dishes. From cheese and olives to fruit or sweets, the design sets food in a row, treating each bit as part of the presentation. The designer continues: ‘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.’
This versatility is a continuation of IKEA’s ongoing interest in experimentation and in the role design plays in enhancing everyday rituals.
the full twelve-piece collection will be revealed on September 9th, 2025
The meatball plate is the first reveal from the twelve-piece collaboration between IKEA and Gustaf Westman. Together, they aim to reinterpret the culture of celebration through color, shape, and material, creating pieces that are bold yet accessible. The remaining designs will be unveiled in September, with release dates staggered by market.
What begins with a meatball becomes a reminder of how design, even in its simplest forms, can shift the way we see ordinary objects. As O’Brian adds: ‘Together, we’ve created a bold, expressive design that uses an unconventional shape and color to give this Swedish staple a well-deserved new stage.’
the plate is designed to showcase the iconic Swedish meatball
the plate works equally well for olives, cheese, fruits, and sweets
project info:
name: Meatball Plate
designer: Gustaf Westman | @gustafwestman
date: September 9th, 2025
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