If design wants to make history, it has to tell a story. Just like the iconic Coca-Cola glass bottle: it has been around since 1915, but back then there was no talk of perfect haptics or ergonomic design in Terre Haute, Indiana. The Root Glass Company was based there. The company of T. Clyde Edwards, Earl R. Dean and Alexander Samuelsson won the design competition organised by Coca-Cola. Dean had the greatest influence on the design: he is said to have been inspired by the leaf of a coca bush. Incidentally, one of the competition tasks was to create a design that could also be recognised by touch, i.e. in the dark.
What does this have to do with the Salone del Mobile 2026? Well, with a Coca-Cola bottle, you always have an iconic reference product in your hand as you walk through the exhibition.