Isla is a metaphor, as its name in Spanish indicates. The dot in the center of the vase represents an island with small imperfections, resulting from the artisanal process of encapsulating a pre-cut and cooled round piece of glass into a square-shaped vase. The chromatic play is configured with vibrant colors reminiscent of the colorful Mexican culture, known for its saturated tones such as cobalt blue, emerald green, and bright yellow

In 2018, Mexico was designated as World Design Capital. It was also at this moment that Nouvel began a creative and productive collaboration with the Federal Office of Culture of Switzerland, allowing Swiss designers the opportunity to explore their talent and creativity through a residency with glass experts in Mexico.

In this context, Julie Richoz was one of the designers invited to the program. Her curiosity blended well with Nouvel’s innovative model, as since her student days she has incorporated sensitivity and creativity, experimenting with new ways of interacting with objects, resulting in a unique language and enhancing her skill in working with materials, particularly ceramics and glass.

The limited edition Isla project is the result of a year of development at the Nouvel workshop, presented in eight color combinations and two sizes. Each piece captures and transmits colorful light, offering a dynamic range of colors from aquatic to deep tones.

Isla is a metaphor, as its name in Spanish indicates. The dot in the center of the vase represents an island with small imperfections, resulting from the artisanal process of encapsulating a pre-cut and cooled round piece of glass into a square-shaped vase.

The chromatic play is configured with vibrant colors reminiscent of the colorful Mexican culture, known for its saturated tones such as cobalt blue, emerald green, and bright yellow. These colors reflect the vibrancy and richness of expressions and festivities, folk art, and tradition. The colors used for Isla are typically found in textile art, papel picado, and crafts. The project is the result of an exchange and blending of two cultures, where Swiss design and Mexican essence merge to create a unique work.