The Passing of Ettore Sottsass
January 24, 2008
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I just learned that the visionary Italian architect and designer Etore Sottsass died on January 1st of this year. He was 90 years old and active as a designer up until his death. He was a designer of true historic significance. His work embodied an emotion, inventive quality and sense of humor or wit that few will ever attain. One of his true classics the Olivetti Valentine typewriter , released on February 14th of 1969, is one of the most highly prized modern design collectibles of the century. Ettore also designed buildings, ceramics, glass, furniture, jewelry, office and lighting products. His role in establishing the memphis design movement during the 1980’s was a milestone in post-modern design.
David Hill
January 24th, 2008 9:24 am
I’ve never seen that typewriter before, but it’s amazing! Thanks for the link.
January 24th, 2008 4:55 pm
That was amazing to be active at 90 as a designer!
What a gorgeous typewritter!!!
January 27th, 2008 9:07 pm
Seeing a typewriter reminds me of a question I’ve long had: why don’t laptop keyboards tilt? If Sottsass could make a typewriter that folds up, surely Lenovo can make a laptop keybaord that pops up.
January 30th, 2008 11:02 am
I had an old ThinkPad (760) in the mid-late 1990s that had an auto-tilting keyboard.
The keyboard was hinged at the front (Trackpoint) end, with some struts at the back. When the display lid was opened, a notch on the sides of the lid pushed the struts upwards, and locked them into place.
January 30th, 2008 11:06 am
Ah, found some photos of the auto tilt mechanism:
http://www.1000bit.net/lista%5.....C760_1.jpg
http://www.1000bit.net/lista%5.....C760_3.jpg
http://www.aichi.to/~thinkpad/tp760/7603.jpg
Laptops sure were chunkier back then!
February 2nd, 2008 12:20 pm
I think he also designed the Hermes 9000, my traveling buddy of some 25 years, in the last century.
Jim Forbes
March 3rd, 2008 12:20 am
Ettore will go with history by being one of the greatest and innovative and unique designers of the modern times. He will be remembered by all who love design.