Alfredo Häberli

Background

Alfredo Häberli was born in 1964 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and moved with his family to Switzerland in 1977. He graduated with distinction in Industrial Design from the Höhere Schule für Gestaltung Zürich in 1991. After training he shared a studio with Christophe Marchand until 1999, when he opened Alfredo Häberli Design Development in Zurich's Seefeld district.

Signature Style

His designs combine tradition with innovation, joy and energy. The work is shaped by his early childhood in Argentina and by close study of everyday life, and he is best known for designing everyday objects. His motto holds that observation is the finest form of thinking.

Notable Works

• Origo tableware, Essence and Senta glasses for Iittala
• Take a Line for a Walk armchair for Moroso
• Segesta chair for Alias
• SEC shelving system for Alias and the Zurigo sofa for Zanotta, both with Christophe Marchand
• Felt rugs with zips and clips, and since 2018 rugs with laser-cut 3D patterns
• Interior design and more than 60 products for the 25hours Hotel Zürich West (2012)

Legacy

Häberli received the Swiss Grand Prix Design from the Federal Office of Culture in 2014 and was named A&W Designer of the Year in 2009. His retrospective SurroundThings ran at the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich in 2008, where he has designed exhibitions since 1988. He has served as a juror for the Design Preis Schweiz since 2019.