Alfredo Häberli Design Development

In 2001, I designed the Essence glass range for Iittala with the simple idea to create a series that had as few glasses as possible while still being able to serve a full range of wines. Twenty years later I add a new dimension to the collection with Essence serving items. The serving collection consists of a reduced range of dishes that are designed to serve more than one purpose and be freely interpreted by the user. The new Essence line is a modern interpretation of a tableware, which finds its place in everyday life as well as in a festive atmosphere. The items’ expressive design creates a distinctive and elegant mood. The items cover all the needs around the table from daily use to festive and even formal occasions. The serving range includes four plain white ceramic items: a large round plate, a bowl, an oval plate and a small jar. The ceramic pieces are accompanied by three glass items in a refined dark grey glass colour: a mid-sized and a small bowl and a medium sized plate. The glass items have a beam pattern decoration in the base, that brings character to the otherwise clean lines of the collection. The items suit multiple purposes in a table setting and are perfect for serving delicacies like cheeses, pastries, sweets, biscuits, fruits, nuts, dips and sauces.