Alfredo Häberli
Alfredo Häberli (b. 1964). An internationally acclaimed designer based in Zurich, Alfredo Häberli seamlessly blends Northern European functionalism with the warmth and emotional expression of his Argentine roots. Born in Buenos Aires in 1964, he moved to Switzerland as a teenager and graduated with distinction in industrial design from the Zurich Higher School of Art and Design. For global design enthusiasts and collectors, Häberli is most famous for his brilliant, long-standing collaboration with Iittala, which began in the late 1990s. His absolute masterpiece is the iconic Essence glassware collection (2001)—a revolutionary, minimalist series where the wine and champagne glasses share identical stem heights and base proportions, bringing a beautiful, balanced harmony to the table. Known for his philosophy that "achieving simplicity is the most difficult process," Häberli has created everything from furniture for Vitra to striking homeware lines, earning him a reputation as one of modern design's most thoughtful tastemakers.
(Alfredo Häberli photo: Iittala)