17.3.2021 - 31.3.2022
Alfredo Häberli & Iittala: 20 years of design brought together in an exhibition

Design Centre Helsinki Häberli
The exhibition "Memories of the Future" by Alfredo Häberli brings together all the projects realized between Häberli and Iittala over two decades. The exhibition is open at the Design Lab Gallery in Iittala & Arabia Design Centre in Helsinki, from March 17th, 2021 to end March 2022.
Design Centre Helsinki Häberli
The Argentinean-born, renowned Swiss contemporary industrial designer Alfredo Häberli has collaborated with Iittala already since 1999, for a bit over two decades. During that time, Häberli has created numerous designs for Iittala, which have generated new directions for Iittala as well as to the social situations for which the designs have been created.
Design Centre Helsinki Häberli
Häberli's designs have become some of Iittala's best-known, most beloved, most distinctive and award-winning collections. The designer is known, among other things, as the creator of such internationally acclaimed collections, as Essence (2001), Origo (1999) and the Kids’ Stuff (2003).

About the background of the Essence series Häberli explains:

“My personal heritage was essential for this project. Knowing the gastronomic business well (restaurant & hotel in my family), my aim was to integrate this knowledge in a modern shape. Not losing the scientific functionality of a shape in relation to the liquid. The idea for the glass range was to create a balance between tradition and modernity, between celebration and daily use, a balance with one and different uses. In a way, I tried to find the essence in-between.”
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Design Centre Helsinki Häberli
Design Centre Helsinki Häberli

The creative process and the origin of icons

The exhibition combines a selection of objects and sketches from Häberli's personal archive and Iittala's collections. Video filmed at his studio in Zürich and an exhibition booklet shed light on Häberli’s personal experiences, insights, and stories of the design processes behind each project:

"Having a reason to dig into my archive and to reminisce about the joint history with Iittala, fills me with joy. I found ideas, sketches, prototypes and out of production items, and items that have been produced since the beginning of our collaboration."
Design Centre Helsinki Häberli
In the exhibition the objects of different projects are arranged in a large display where they can be viewed as their own entities and at the same time interacting with each other, creating multiple layers and background for what is ultimately realized, for example, as a glass or a bowl in people’s daily lives and celebrations.
Design Centre Helsinki Häberli
"I am deeply honoured to be able to work with a brand like Iittala, with such a rich history. Together we have managed to create some products that could be considered iconic – some have survived turbulent times for the industry while others have tested the accumulated knowledge and visionary views from all involved individuals", Häberli says.
Design Centre Helsinki Häberli
Häberli encourages the exhibition visitor to take the opportunity to pause for a moment and think about the importance of loyalty, continuity, longevity, the past and the future.