Olivetti (1992)
Excerpt fr. John A. Walker’s Glossary of Art, Architecture & Design since 1945, 3rd. ed.
artdesigncafé | cafe library | Published 28 May 2011
This text is an excerpt from Walker’s 1992 glossary previously published by Library Association Publishing, London.
Olivetti
Olivetti is an Italian manufacturing company founded in the town of Ivrea, Piedmont, by the engineer Camillo Olivetti (1868-1943) in 1908. Camillo was succeeded by his son Adriano (1901-60). By 1958 Olivetti had established several factories in Italy and controlled 17 allied foreign companies. Olivetti designs and makes typewriters, computers, office furniture, and other office equipment. It became famous in the design world because of its encouragement of high-quality design in terms of its products and publicity graphics, and its innovations in social welfare and design management. It has employed such well-known designers as Aldo Magnelli, Marcello Nizzoli (responsible for the elegantly styled Lettera 22 portable typewriter of 1950), Mario Bellini and Ettore Sottsass.
Olivetti has been the subject of celebratory exhibitions at MoMA, New York, in 1952 and the ICA. London, in 1957. The company has been art-conscious: it has employed artists, commissioned sculptures and sponsored travelling exhibitions of art.
References and further readings
> Adriano Olivetti. Olivetti 1908-58. (Ivrea, Olivetti, 1958).
> Renzo Zorzi. “Olivetti concept and form”. Graphis, (150), 1971-2, pp. 346-81.
> Sybille Kircherer. Olivetti. (Trefoil, 1988).
ads by artdesigncafe
Facebook comments
