Rosanna Designs Inc: The Brand Story with Rosanna Bowles
Some brands instantly feel personal — rooted in connection, creativity, and a genuine love of gathering. Rosanna Designs is one of those brands, and this feature is especially close to my heart. Discover Rosanna Designs and founder Rosanna Bowles, an award-winning tableware brand known for timeless design, gathering, and meaningful moments at the table.
I met Rosanna Bowles years ago when our kids were in school together. Long before Gal Pal existed, Rosanna was already doing what she does best: connecting women, gathering people around the table, and creating beautiful things meant to be shared. That spirit is woven into every piece she designs.
Founded in 1982, Rosanna Inc is an award-winning international tableware design brand known for distinctive signature design, thoughtful product design, refined graphic design, and classic pieces that stand the test of time. From being one of the first American companies to bring a design-forward approach to tabletop — in what was once a male-dominated business market.
A Personal Note: Why Rosanna Designs Lives in My Home
This story is deeply personal for me. I truly treasure my Rosanna Designs pieces — from cocktail glasses that always make an evening feel celebratory, to classic cake plates and timeless tableware that come out year after year. These are not “special occasion only” pieces; they are part of my everyday life and my most meaningful gatherings.
Some Of My Few Favorites
Azul Small Plates & Bowls
$60
Small Plates and Dishes
$22-$40
Crown Grand Tour Cocktail Glass
$94.00
I admire Rosanna enormously — not just for her impeccable eye, but for her grit and heart. She built her business the old-fashioned way: driving around, showing her products to stores one by one, believing in her designs long before the rest of the world caught on. Watching her grow a brand with integrity, creativity, and perseverance has been inspiring, and owning her pieces feels like owning a piece of that journey.
Early Inspiration & The Birth of Rosanna Designs
Rosanna’s design story began in Europe, where she studied and spent time immersed in classic European china, typography, and decorative arts. Those early experiences shaped the aesthetic that would later define Rosanna tableware — a blend of nostalgia, elegance, and graphic clarity.
When she returned to the U.S., Rosanna recognized a gap in the market: there was little available that felt both nostalgic and stylish, combining vintage motifs with a fresh, modern sensibility. In 1982, she launched Rosanna Inc. as a small design house producing distinctive dishware and giftable home pieces. Serving as both president and art director, Rosanna built the brand around seasonal collections — fall and spring — reinterpreting timeless design elements for contemporary homes.
From Small Design to Global Lifestyle Brand
Over the decades, Rosanna Inc evolved from a small startup into an international tableware and design house, selling millions of pieces worldwide and becoming a recognized leader in homewares and décor.
The brand’s growth led to collaborations and distribution with major institutions and retailers including Starbucks, Nordstrom, Macy’s, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Smithsonian Institute. These partnerships helped establish Rosanna as a global lifestyle name — while still staying true to the heart of the brand: gathering, beauty, and connection.
Rosanna Designs has earned wide recognition for both design excellence and leadership. The brand has received top industry honors including:
- NY NOW’s Best New Product Award for the Stockholm collection and the British Giftware Association’s
- Gift of the Year Award — becoming the first American company to win this prestigious UK honor.
- Tableware International’s Awards of Excellence,
- NY NOW Best New Product
- ARTS Awards in the tabletop category
- White House Historical Association
Beyond product design, Rosanna Bowles has been recognized for her leadership and impact as a woman founder, earning honors such as Puget Sound Business Journal’s Women of Influence, the University of Oregon Alumni Fellow Award for Outstanding Career Achievement, and a feature in O Magazine’s “Women Who Make Beautiful Things” and Seattle’s most enterprising women. The brand has also been consistently acknowledged among inspiring women-owned businesses and leaders in the home and tabletop industry.
Meet Rosanna Bowles! Gather and Glow Interview
Q: How has connecting or gathering with women made a difference in your life or your business?
A: Women are incredibly supportive and have helped me be strong and resilient throughout my life and career. The relationships I’ve built with other women have made all the difference — personally and professionally.
Q: What helps you “glow” — personally or professionally — when life gets busy?
A: Spending time with my grown children always grounds me. Traveling to Europe also inspires me creatively and reminds me why I love design so much.
Q: What’s one lesson or moment of growth that has shaped who you are today?
A: Never give up. COVID was an extremely challenging time both professionally and personally. I learned how important perseverance is, even when things feel uncertain.
Q: Who or what inspires you to keep going and glowing — especially when things get tough?
A: The memory of my parents and the example they set. They were strong, hardworking people, and I carry that with me every day.
Q: What’s your favorite product from your line — and why does it hold meaning for you?
A: Any of our bowls, in any size. I use them daily. They carry nourishment and love, which is exactly what I believe the table should represent.
Gather & Glow Giveaway: Noble Fur Holiday Platter
To celebrate the season of connection, Rosanna Designs is generously contributing a favorite holiday piece to our Gather & Glow Giveaway.
Noble Fur Holiday Platter
Retail Value: $84
Hand-painted holiday platter featuring pine trees and forest friends — charming, festive, and timeless.
Why Rosanna Designs Endures
Rosanna Designs isn’t just about tabletop — it’s about stories, perseverance, and the belief that gathering around a beautiful table matters. Knowing Rosanna personally makes that even more meaningful. Her love of food, conversation, and bringing women together is not branding — it’s who she is.
And every time I pull out one of her pieces, I’m reminded that beautiful things are meant to be used, shared, and loved — again and again.
