#OLIverse, deep dives into Olivetti

What happens when design stops serving machines and starts serving people? In this episode of OLIverse, we explore the life and legacy of Ettore Sottsass, one of the most influential designers of the twentieth century and a central figure in Olivetti’s history. Over two decades of collaboration, Sottsass helped redefine the relationship between technology, aesthetics and human experience, creating...

What role can a technology company play in preserving one of the world's most celebrated works of art? In this episode of OLIverse, we explore Olivetti’s extraordinary contribution to the restoration of Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, a complex undertaking that lasted from 1982 to 1999. At a time when the mural was considered by many to be beyond recovery, Olivetti provided financial support,...

Before personal computers transformed office work, Olivetti was already redefining information management through advanced accounting systems. From the early Audit and Mercator machines to the electronic Auditronic and A-series, the company progressively merged typing, calculation, storage, and software into integrated office platforms. Magnetic memory, programmable functions, video displays, and...

Olivetti’s expansion into Argentina marked a decisive step in its transformation from a commercial presence to a fully developed industrial system abroad. To support growing demand in Latin America, the company commissioned architect Marco Zanuso to design the Merlo factory — a modular industrial complex built with innovative structural solutions and conceived for long-term adaptability. Inspired...

In the early 1980s, personal computing was still unfamiliar territory for most people. To introduce the M20 and M24, Olivetti developed a communication strategy that moved away from technical complexity, choosing instead a visual language based on metaphor and familiarity. Campaigns featured children, animals, and domestic scenes, presenting computers as intuitive tools rather than intimidating ma...

Renzo Zorzi played a central role in preserving and evolving the cultural identity of Olivetti during a period of profound technological transformation. From editorial work and resistance activities to leading the company’s image, design, and cultural initiatives, Zorzi helped shape a model in which innovation and humanistic values remained deeply connected. He oversaw international exhibitions, a...

Long before corporate welfare became a structured discipline, Olivetti was already investing in the social and cultural life of its employees. From early 20th-century worker initiatives to the creation of the Gruppo Sportivo Ricreativo Olivetti (GSRO), the company developed a model where leisure, culture, and sport were integral to industrial life. Supported by leadership figures such as Camillo O...

Before the PC: Olivetti’s Word Processing Revolution The evolution of writing technologies marks one of the most significant transitions in the history of office work. In the 1970s and 1980s, Olivetti played a key role in this shift, moving from mechanical typewriters to advanced electronic writing systems. Machines such as the Editor S14 and the TES series introduced magnetic memory, video displa...

Louis Kahn and the Olivetti Factory in Harrisburg explores one of the most remarkable encounters between industrial ambition and architectural innovation. Following the acquisition of Underwood, Olivetti sought to establish a modern manufacturing presence in the United States. To express its technological vision, the company commissioned architect Louis Kahn to design a new facility in Harrisburg,...

In 1969, Olivetti introduced the Valentine, designed by Ettore Sottsass. More than a portable typewriter, it was a deliberate cultural statement. Launched in a saturated market, the Valentine shifted the focus from technical performance to identity, mobility, and lifestyle positioning. Its red ABS body and unconventional communication strategy transformed a functional object into a symbol of gener...

Mario Tchou and the Dawn of Italian Computing explores the visionary engineer who led Olivetti into the electronic age. Recruited by Adriano Olivetti in 1954, Mario Tchou founded the pioneering research laboratory in Pisa, where a young team of engineers developed the Elea 9003 — the first Italian commercial transistorized computer. At a time when most companies still relied on vacuum tubes, Tchou...

Olivetti and the Early Roots of Corporate Environmental Responsibility explores a little-known chapter of industrial history. In the early 1970s — before environmental regulations became mandatory — Olivetti introduced internal commissions to control waste and pollution, invested in advanced filtration systems, and adopted cleaner energy solutions in plants such as Ivrea and Scarmagno. Beyond its...

Sottsass democratized the office with Olivetti's Series 45 explores one of the most ambitious office design systems of the 20th century. Launched in the early 1970s, Synthesis 45 was conceived as a modular, human-centered furniture ecosystem based on a 45-centimeter grid. Under Ettore Sottsass’s direction, Olivetti transformed office furniture into a coherent design language—functional, affordable...

Olivetti at Play: Technology Behind Global Sport Long before real-time data became the backbone of global sport, Olivetti was already redefining how competitions were recorded and experienced worldwide. From the  1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo to the high-stakes world of Formula 1 , Olivetti’s machines transformed press rooms into high-speed information hubs. This episode explores the e...

Olivetti Headquarters: Architecture of the Ivrea Office Palace In the 1960s, Olivetti designed a new kind of corporate headquarters in Ivrea, rethinking the office as a place of connection, flexibility, and shared intelligence. Conceived by architects Bernasconi, Fiocchi, and Nizzoli, the Ivrea Office Palace introduced a radial layout centered on a hexagonal core, flexible internal spaces, and an...

How Olivetti made machine bow down: the Birth of Ergonomics Long before ergonomics became a global standard, Olivetti redefined the relationship between humans and machines. This episode explores how the company moved beyond Taylorism to develop a human-centered approach to technology, integrating psychology, physiology, and biomechanics into product and workplace design. From keyboards and displa...

Marisa Bellisario at Olivetti: Leadership in the Electronic Age From Olivetti to the global stage of electronics, Marisa Bellisario reshaped the language of leadership in a male-dominated industrial world. Beginning her career at Olivetti in 1960, she navigated complex transitions involving companies such as General Electric and Honeywell, standing out for her strategic vision in product planning...

Inside Olivetti: The Psychology Lab That Transformed Work The Olivetti Psychology Center was one of the company’s most pioneering initiatives, designed to rethink how people worked, learned, and collaborated. Established in the 1940s and shaped by figures like Adriano Olivetti and Cesare Musatti, the center evolved from psychotechnical testing to a fully integrated unit influencing organization, s...

This episode explores Olivetti’s innovative approach to employee welfare through its meal and transport programs. From the creation of architecturally designed canteens promoting well-being to the introduction of exclusive bus services for workers and their families, these initiatives reflected Olivetti’s commitment to social progress and quality of life. This episode traces how these services bec...

Olivetti Calculating Machines: from Gears to Circuits This episode explores Olivetti’s evolution from mechanical precision to electronic innovation — a story of ingenuity, design, and technological foresight. From the groundbreaking Divisumma 24 to the sleek Logos series, Olivetti redefined what calculating machines could be, combining function, form, and creativity. Discover how the company bridg...

“ Olivetti's Scarmagno Factory:an Industrial Icon ” explores the rise of Olivetti’s major production hub near Ivrea — a landmark of postwar Italian industrial design and innovation. Built in the 1960s to sustain Olivetti’s rapid growth, the Scarmagno factory became a model of human-centered industrial architecture, where technology, design, and well-being coexisted in perfect balance. Designed by...

Olivetti’s ‘Red Books’: The Blueprint of Brand Identity In the 1970s, Olivetti redefined corporate identity through a visionary project: I Libri Rossi — the Red Books. More than just design manuals, they became a blueprint for global coherence, shaping how the brand appeared on every surface, from packaging to architecture. Developed under the direction of Hans von Klier and featuring the refined...

Pier Giorgio Perotto and the Birth of the Programma 101 Engineer, inventor, and visionary, Pier Giorgio Perotto transformed the way the world understood computing. At Olivetti, he led the creation of the Programma 101, the first personal computer — a revolutionary machine that made technology accessible, intuitive, and personal. This episode of #OLIverse retraces Perotto’s story, his groundbreakin...

Olivetti’s Integrated Assembly Units: Beyond the Assembly Line In the early 1970s, Olivetti reimagined industrial work. Moving beyond the traditional Taylorist model, the company introduced Integrated Assembly Units — small, autonomous teams responsible for complete tasks. This innovative approach enhanced productivity, responsibility, and satisfaction, transforming the factory floor into a place...

Olivetti’s Architecture: Employee Housing and Urban Planning This episode explores how Olivetti redefined corporate responsibility through architecture and urban planning. From Ivrea’s Borgo Olivetti to Quartiere Castellamonte and beyond, the company invested in high-quality housing designed by leading architects, creating environments where work, community, and daily life could thrive together. D...