Founded in Iittala, Finland in 1881, Iittala first began as a glass factory. The company now celebrates generations of glassware objects including vases, dishes, and décor items, and maintains the tenet that objects should be distinctive, multifunctional, and enduring—both physically and aesthetically.

Claesson Koivisto Rune was founded in Stockholm in 1995 by Marten Claesson, Eero Koivisto and Ola Rune. They started as an architectural office but soon became a multi-disciplinary firm doing architecture and design with equal focus. Their commissions include the Sfera Buliding in Kyoto, as well as product designs for Cappellini and Iittala.

Timo Sarpaneva (1926-2006) was a Finnish designer, sculptor, and educator who was known for his innovative work with glass. The influential designer also worked with metals, woods, textiles, and porcelain. Sarpaneva created functional products that were also aesthetically attractive, including his cast-iron cookware series and porcelain dinnerware. Sarpaneva designed for several renowned Scandinavian design companies, including Iittala and Marimekko.

Andreas Engesvik has a Bachelors degree in Art History from the University of Bergen Norway and went on to study Design at the National College of Art and Design. He graduated with a Masters degree in Design and founded Norway Says in the same year. After 6 successful years, as a company, Andreas Engesvik went solo and founded his new studio Andreas Engesvik, Oslo. His studio is working in various fields of design ranging from furniture and tableware to industrial design for various international clients such as: Iittala, Muuto, Ligne Roset, and Asplund.

Alfredo Häberli was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1964. Today, he is an internationally established designer based in Zurich. He manages to unite tradition with innovation, joy, and energy in his designs. The result are works with companies such as Alias, Camper, Iittala, Kvadrat, Luceplan, Moroso, and Volvo.

Björn Dahlström started his company in 1982, concentrating on graphic design for clients like Ericsson, Scania, Atlas Copco etc. Today, 80 percent of the work consists of industrial design. Dahlström has also designed a wide variety of products, including bicycles, carpets, cookware, toys, and furniture, for important design houses like Cbi, Magis, Iittala, and Marimekko.

Göran Hongell was born in Helsinki, Finland in 1902. The artist and glass designer was one of the pioneers of Finnish glass tradition. Back in the 1930s, Hongell presented a first version of what would become his most famous creation, the handblown glass series Aarne. In 1954, he won the gold medal at the Triennale in Milan with Aarne. The Aarne glass series is produced by Iittala.

Architect Aino Marsio met Alvar Aalto in 1924 while working for his office in Jyväskylä, Finland, and the two were soon off on an Italian honeymoon. With a visual artist and art historian they established Artek (art plus technology) in 1935 to produce their bent-wood furniture. Although her work largely went unaccredited, Aino is most famous for her colorful glassware, still in production by Iittala.

Kaj Franck was a Finnish designer of glass and tableware. Though he also worked as an educator, his 1953 Kilta line of tableware for Arabia became a massive international hit. Franck is known as an icon of Finnish design, in his removal of excess in his designs, focusing only on the essential elements. Franck has earned numerous awards and prizes, and his work is featured in various design museums. Franck's most famous objects include the Teema tableware collection and Kartio line of glassware, both produced by Iittala.

Born in 1915 in Hanko, Finland, Tapio Wirkkala was one of the country’s most prominent—and most versatile—designers of the 20th century. A sculptor and designer, he gained fame with his glass tableware for Iittala, which included his 1968 Ultima Thule collection, the manufacturing of which took thousands of hours to perfect the glass-blowing technique needed to create the illusion of melting icicles. Wirkkala also left his mark as a graphic designer on the Finnish banknotes and was the artistic director of the University of Arts and Design in Helsinki for many years. He died in 1985.

Antonio Citterio was born in Meda in 1950. He graduated in architecture at the Politecnico of Milan. From 1972 he worked in the field of industrial design as a designer and consultant. He works with many manufacturers such as Ansorg, Arclinea, B&B Italia, Flexform, Flos, Kartell, Tre-P&Tre-Piu, Valli & Valli, Vitra. In 1999 he becomes art director for Brionvega. He won the Golden Compass Award in 1987 and 1995. In 1981 he also starts working on architecture and interiors, establishing a multi-disciplinary architecture and design studio with experience ranging from architecture to corporate design comprising total creative directing for a mixed range of international clients. Toan Nguyen: Born in Paris, 1969 Toan Nguyen graduated with honors in Industrial Design at ENSCI-Les Ateliers, Paris, in 1995. In 1998, after professional experiences in several design offices in Paris, Barcelona and Milan, he began his collaboration with Antonio Citterio. Since 2000, he managed the design department of Antonio Citterio, becoming design partner in 2004 and working with international companies such as: Alfa Romeo, Arclinea, Artemide, Axor-Hansgrohe, B&B Italia, Flos, Guzzini, Iittala, JCDecaux, Kartell, Technogym, Valli&Valli, Vitra, Wall. Toan Nguyen has been design assistant professor at the Domus Academy-Milan (2000) and the Mendrisio Architecture Academy-Switzerland (2000-2001) and jury member for the IF product design award 2009 in Hannover. In 2008, Toan Nguyen launched his own design office based in Milan, with a branch office in Paris, collaborating with leading international companies based in Italy, the United States, Germany and Spain.

Born in Paris, 1969 Toan Nguyen graduated with honors in Industrial Design at ENSCI-Les Ateliers, Paris, in 1995. In 1998, after professional experiences in several design offices in Paris, Barcelona and Milan, he began his collaboration with Antonio Citterio. Since 2000, he managed the design department of Antonio Citterio, becoming design partner in 2004 and working with international companies such as: Alfa Romeo, Arclinea, Artemide, Axor-Hansgrohe, B&B Italia, Flos, Guzzini, Iittala, JCDecaux, Kartell, Technogym, Valli&Valli, Vitra, Wall. Toan Nguyen has been design assistant professor at the Domus Academy-Milan (2000) and the Mendrisio Architecture Academy-Switzerland (2000-2001) and jury member for the IF product design award 2009 in Hannover. In 2008, Toan Nguyen launched his own design office based in Milan, with a branch office in Paris, collaborating with leading international companies based in Italy, the United States, Germany and Spain.