Ettore Sottsass (1917–2007)

A key figure in 20th-century design, Ettore Sottsass was an architect, designer, and cultural provocateur. His career spanned over six decades and was defined by a deeply humanistic, ironic, and radical approach that constantly challenged the boundaries between art, design, and architecture.

Trained at the Polytechnic University of Turin, Sottsass began his career in architecture and industrial design, rising to prominence in the 1950s as a consultant for Olivetti. There, he created the iconic Valentine typewriter (1969), a symbol of Italian pop culture and the democratization of design.

His work took a decisive turn in the 1980s when he founded the Memphis Milano collective, aiming to break away from dominant rationalist paradigms and introduce an emotional, playful design infused with cultural references. Bold colors, geometric shapes, synthetic materials, and a deliberately anti-functional aesthetic turned the Memphis movement into a visual revolution that redefined the language of contemporary design.

Sottsass didn’t design objects to follow rules, but to tell stories, provoke emotions, and challenge conventions. His pieces — such as the Carlton bookcase, Tartar tables, Totem vases, and ceramics — are visual manifestos, rich in personality.

In addition to Memphis, he collaborated with major manufacturers like Poltronova, Bitossi, Alessi, Knoll, and Vitra, and his work has been showcased in leading institutions including the MoMA, Centre Pompidou, and Design Museum in London.

With Ettore Sottsass, design ceased to be merely functional and became a form of thought. His legacy continues to inspire generations of creators who see design as a way of life.