Readymag Stories: Ettore Sottsass

when i began designing machines, i also began to think that these objects, which sit next to each other and around people, can influence not only physical conditions but emotions as well. they can touch the nerves, the blood, the muscles, the eyes and the moods of people. —ettore sottsass

A square-shaped robot on 16 small wheels

sottsass associati

About the same time as the founding of Memphis, Sottsass started a second studio, which concentrated on consulting in the areas of architecture and design. Its clients over the years have included Apple, Fiat, Philips, Siemens and Alessi.

Sottsass Associati, 1993. From left to right: Mike Ryan, Marco Zanini, Mario Milizia, James Irvine, Johanna Grawunder and Ettore Sottsass. © Sottsass Associati.

A control panel for Mandelli medical machine

Brionvega television set broadcasting an image of a lipstick and red lips on a blue background

Сontrol panel for Mandelli, 1981. © Sottsass Associati.

Television set for Brionvega designed by Ettore Sottsass and Matteo Thun, 1980. © Sottsass Associati.

Offices of Cementeria di Merone, Milan. An interior of a room

Offices of Cementeria di Merone, Milan, Italy, 1993. © Sottsass Associati.

Artos spotlights for Zumtobel. Three lamps in front of a wall

Optos lightning system for Zumtobel. Lights of different colors on a ceiling

Artos spotlights for Zumtobel. © Zumtobel.

Optos lighting system for Zumtobel, 1989. © Zumtobel.

Fiorucci store in Bologna, Italy. Clothing store interior

Fiorucci store in Amsterdam. Clothing store interior with dinosaur murals

Fiorucci store in Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1980.

ettore thought that design should help people become more aware of their existence: the space they live in, how to arrange it and their own presence in it.
—barbara radice, his wife

Office of Cementeria di Merone. An interior with a cupboard and a table

bob dylan

Ettore Sottsass often said he was a Bob Dylan fan. The inspiration for naming his firm “Memphis” came from Dylan’s song, “Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again,” which was playing in the office during the group’s founding meeting.