Gustaf Westman's work has attracted attention both IRL — fans and clients include a who's who of next-gen “It” girls Kaia Gerber , Emma Chamberlain and Olivia Rodrigo, to name a few — and online where admirers post DIY recreations of his objects.
His colorful furnishings, tableware and objects were exhibited at Stockholm Furniture Fair, sell at online retailer Ssense, and have spawned collaborations like the spiky version of his signature cup with Highsnobiety and taking over Café Standard with his designs during Miami Art Week.
His creations are so bright and bold yet minimalist, that his style is often associated with the Memphis movement, Ettore Sottsass' postmodern group in Milan in the '80s. Some have assumed it's the root of his inspiration. But Westman says it isn't so.
“Scandinavian design has been my main inspiration, Danish, Finnish,” 28-year-old Westman tells WWD in L.A. “I relate more to Scandinavian [design], the simpleness and using few materials.”
The influence is unsurprising given Westman's background. Born and bred in Sweden, he's from a small city called Borås, known for its history in textile manufacturing. Growing up, he sketched clothing and furniture, he says, before ultimately studying architecture in Gothenburg, then moving to Stockholm where he opened his design studio in 2020.
“The first one I did was an office for a PR firm,” he says of the first architectural project. “And then that PR firm helped me get some more projects. I did a showroom for a clothing brand in Stockholm. I did a small barber shop…and I would do special design objects for those projects. I didn't charge anything extra for the design. They just helped me with a prototype. So, it was sort of a deal that I made to learn.”
“'What's a different way to use a wine glass?'” he asked himself before creating the piece as part of a project for a wine bar. The wine bottle sits in the middle with openings for wine glasses all around. Like all his work, it's made in one color throughout — curvy, chunky and blending functionality with a sense of playfulness.
