Pitcher, Essense, Alfredo Häberli, Iittala

Alfredo Häberli (b. 1964). One of the world's leading industrial designers, Alfredo Häberli is celebrated for creating objects that unite technical precision with warmth, emotion and everyday functionality. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he moved to Switzerland in 1977 and graduated with distinction in industrial design from the Zurich University of the Arts in 1991, receiving the school's diploma award. After establishing his own studio in Zurich, Häberli developed long-standing collaborations with many of the world's foremost design brands, including Iittala, Vitra, Alias, Georg Jensen and BMW. His best-known work for Iittala, the Essence glassware collection, introduced in 2001, redefined modern stemware through its elegant simplicity, with every glass sharing the same stem height and base diameter while being individually shaped for different beverages. Equally acclaimed is his colourful Origo tableware collection, which has received numerous international design awards. Guided by his belief that "observing is the most beautiful form of thinking," Häberli creates products that feel intuitive, timeless and deeply human. Today, his work is represented in major museum collections worldwide and continues to influence contemporary industrial design through its seamless balance of innovation, functionality and emotional appeal.

(Photo source: Iittala)