Origo beige mug - 0,4 l - Iittala

With Origo, Alfredo Häberli set out to answer an essential question: how many pieces of tableware do you really need for everyday practicality? Rather than designing a complete set with seldom-used pieces, Häberli opted for a minimalist, versatile approach, reducing the collection to seven essential pieces for a variety of uses.

Colorful pattern

Origo stands out for its bold, rainbow-inspired multicolored stripes. Initially, only the œufier was colored, but in response to its dazzling success, all the pieces adopted this vibrant pattern. The stripes add a decorative touch without resorting to floral elements, which Häberli said he couldn't master. The warm and cool colors of the circles create a visual rhythm that brightens up any table.

Materials

Made from high-quality ceramic, Origo is designed to withstand everyday use, being dishwasher and microwave-safe, while retaining the brilliance of its colors. This robustness has contributed to its success and longevity.

Awards

Origo has been revolutionary since its launch, receiving prestigious awards such as the iF Design Award in 2002. It has also found its way into the collections of design museums, testifying to its status as a design classic. Its commercial and critical success is based on its balance between bold aesthetics and practical functionality.

Designer

Alfredo Häberli

Häberli grew up in Buenos Aires in a family of Swiss origin, where he was influenced by the vibrant colors and textures of Argentina. At the age of 13, his family moved to Zurich, a move that profoundly influenced his design sensibility, blending South American exuberance with European rigor. He studied industrial design at Zurich's Hochschule für Gestaltung, graduating in 1991. This blend of cultural influences became a signature of his work, which he describes as a fusion of Latin emotion and Swiss precision.

After graduating, he worked for various studios before founding his own studio, Alfredo Häberli Design Development, in Zurich in 1991. He collaborates with prestigious brands such as Iittala, Vitra, Moroso, Kvadrat, Luceplan, Alias and Camper, creating objects ranging from tableware and furniture to lighting and interior design concepts.

Häberli has received numerous awards, including the iF Design Award, the Red Dot Award, and the Swiss Grand Prix of Design (2014). His work is exhibited in museums such as MoMA in New York, the Museum für Gestaltung in Zurich and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. In 2018, a retrospective exhibition, Alfredo Häberli - Maybe I'm Wrong, celebrated his 25-year career at Zurich's Museum für Gestaltung.