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Alessi’s products are part of more permanent museum collections
around the world than any other design company (including MoMA,
NYC). Why? Jump in, and see.
Like all great design companies, the Alessi story begins with a family. We’re delighted to announce that a selection of their world famous kitchen tools are now available on Yuppiechef. Read on to learn more about Alessi, including what a Santa Claus bottle opener has to do with the price of cheese and why they…
Like all great design companies, the Alessi story begins with a family. In 1921 Giovanni Alessi set up a metal workshop at his family home on Lake Orta in the Italian Alps. His son, Carlo, joined him at an early age and went on to develop virtually all of the products between 1935 and 1945. Today, the business is into its third generation under the careful watch of Alberto Alessi.
From the 1950s, Alessi stopped employing inhouse designers and worked only with freelancers who, free from corporate dullness, added a variety of cultural influences to the mix. Beginning with just metal work, Alessi have expanded their horizons over the years to include plastics, wood, crystal, porcelain, appliances and electronics but in spite of the changes still consider their products to be handicraft – just assisted by machines.
Alessi’s design philosophy is under-girded by a real sense of mission – far from being purely commercial, their goal is to design products that meet the consumer’s needs and requirements while at the same time making the consumer happier. The current catalog, which they describe as eclectic, is the result of Alessi’s collaboration with many internationally-acclaimed designers including Sottsass, Castiglioni, Mendini and Fuksas.
We love the quirkiness, freedom and fun of their products and the quality of their packaging speaks a thousand words.
Alessi are doing great things and we think they are deserving of the highest five. Enjoy browsing some of their products and do your best not to fall in love. We think this snippet from Alberto Alessi says it all:
“a true work of design must be able to move people, to convey feelings, to trigger memories, to surprise, to go against the grain… We work on expressive languages and on the expressive potential of the items… From this point of view, design intended to conjure up images in people’s minds and which makes them a bit happier has tremendous potential.”
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