Shows
#OLIverse, deep dives into OlivettiOLIverse - 46 - PEOPLE - Mario Tchou and Olivetti: the Birth of Italian ComputingMario 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 chose advanced transistor technology, positioning Olivetti as a global competitor in computing. His sudden death in 1961, following that of Adriano Olivetti, marked a turning point for the company’s independent electronics division.This...
2026-02-2629 min
#OLIverse, deep dives into OlivettiOLIverse - 45 - WELFARE - Olivetti: Industry, Environment, and Vision in the 1970sOlivetti 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 factories, the company supported the international “Save Our Planet” campaign in collaboration with UNESCO and leading artists, anticipating the principles of corporate sustainability decades ahead of mainstream adoption.This episode reveals how environmental stewardship became part of Olivetti’s corporate identity — not as compl...
2026-02-1929 min
#OLIverse, deep dives into OlivettiOLIverse - 44 - PRODUCTS - Designing Work: Sottsass and Olivetti Series 45Sottsass democratized the office with Olivetti's Series 45explores 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, and adaptable to real work environments. More than one hundred elements were designed to work together, reflecting a radical idea: office design as a cultural project, where identity, collaboration, and everyday use mattered as much as form.This...
2026-02-1221 min
#OLIverse, deep dives into OlivettiOLIverse - 43 - SPECIAL EPISODE - Olivetti & Sport: Technology, Sponsorship, RecordsOlivetti at Play: Technology Behind Global SportLong 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 evolution from typewriters and teleprinters to the advanced computing systems that pioneered modern sports communication.Part of the "Olivetti and Sport" project, this special episode is produced by Archi...
2026-02-0526 min
#OLIverse, deep dives into OlivettiOLIverse - 42 - ARCHITECTURE - Olivetti’s Office Palace: Architecture for Work and CommunityOlivetti 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 early integration of computing infrastructure. This episode explores how architecture became a strategic tool for organizing work, fostering collaboration, and expressing Olivetti’s human-centered vision — where efficiency, technology, and landscape coexist.This episode includes AI-g...
2026-01-2913 min
#OLIverse, deep dives into OlivettiOLIverse - 41 - DESIGN - Olivetti's Revolutions: Ergonomics by DesignHow Olivetti made machine bow down: the Birth of ErgonomicsLong 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 displays to posture and environmental comfort, Olivetti treated ergonomics as a strategic driver of quality, well-being, and innovation.A story of research, design culture, and industrial foresight that still shapes how we work today.This episode...
2026-01-2214 min
#OLIverse, deep dives into OlivettiOLIverse - 40 - PEOPLE - Marisa Bellisario: Italy’s First Lady of Electronics and ManagementMarisa Bellisario at Olivetti: Leadership in the Electronic AgeFrom 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 and technology-driven management.Her path culminated in the remarkable turnaround of Italtel, where she combined technical insight, decisiveness, and cultural intelligence to redefine Italian industrial leadership. This episode retraces the career of a pioneer who opened new horizons...
2026-01-1522 min
#OLIverse, deep dives into OlivettiOLIverse - 39 - WELFARE - Olivetti's Center for Psychology and Work OrganizationInside Olivetti: The Psychology Lab That Transformed WorkThe 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, safety, sociological studies, and workplace well-being.This episode explores how psychological research became a strategic tool inside Olivetti, adapting to the shift from mechanical to electronic production and redefining the relationship between people and industry.Th...
2025-11-2714 min
#OLIverse, deep dives into OlivettiOLIverse - 38 - WELFARE - Beyond the Factory: Olivetti's Everyday WelfareThis 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 became an integral part of the company’s human-centered philosophy, influencing modern concepts of workplace welfare and corporate culture.
2025-11-1310 min
#OLIverse, deep dives into OlivettiOLIverse - 37 - PRODUCTS - Olivetti and the Birth of Electronic CalculationOlivetti Calculating Machines: from Gears to CircuitsThis 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 bridged the worlds of mechanics and electronics, setting new standards for design and usability in the computing age.This episode includes AI-generated content.
2025-11-0612 min
#OLIverse, deep dives into OlivettiOLIverse - 36 - ARCHITECTURE - Olivetti's Scarmagno Factory: an Industrial Icon“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 Marco Zanuso and Eduardo Vittoria, it embodied a vision of progress that merged productivity with aesthetics — a legacy that still defines Olivetti’s identity today. This episode includes AI-generated content.
2025-10-3017 min
#OLIverse, deep dives into OlivettiOLIverse - 35 - DESIGN - Olivetti's "Red Books" - The Blueprint of Brand IdentityOlivetti’s ‘Red Books’: The Blueprint of Brand IdentityIn 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 logo redesigned by Walter Ballmer, the Red Books balanced creativity and consistency, ensuring that Olivetti’s visual language evolved without losing its soul. An essential chapter in the story of how design bec...
2025-10-2315 min
#OLIverse, deep dives into OlivettiOLIverse - 34 - PEOPLE - Pier Giorgio Perotto: Inventing the Future at OlivettiPier Giorgio Perotto and the Birth of the Programma 101Engineer, 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 groundbreaking innovation, and the spirit of experimentation that defined Olivetti’s approach to design and technology.
2025-10-1614 min
#OLIverse, deep dives into OlivettiOLIverse - 33 - WORK - How Olivetti Transformed the Assembly LineOlivetti’s Integrated Assembly Units: Beyond the Assembly LineIn 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 of collaboration and human value. Decades ahead of its time, Olivetti once again proved that innovation begins with people.
2025-10-0912 min
#OLIverse, deep dives into OlivettiOLIverse - 32 - WELFARE - Building Communities: Olivetti’s Vision for Employee HousingOlivetti’s Architecture: Employee Housing and Urban PlanningThis 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.Discover how this pioneering vision turned homes into a cornerstone of Olivetti’s human-centered approach to industry.
2025-10-0216 min
#OLIverse, deep dives into OlivettiOLIverse - 31 - PRODUCTS - Olivetti's P101: the First Personal ComputerOlivetti Programma 101: Personal Computing PioneerIn the 1960s, Olivetti unveiled the Programma 101 — a groundbreaking machine designed by Pier Giorgio Perotto that anticipated the personal computer era by more than a decade.First presented at the 1965 BEMA exhibition in New York, the P101 became an instant success, blending visionary design and technological ingenuity.Episode 31 of #OLIverse retraces the story of this innovation, its global impact, and how it reshaped the way we think about computing.
2025-09-2513 min
#OLIverse, deep dives into OlivettiOLIverse - 30 - ARCHITECTURE - Olivetti's Blue House: the Hub of Human-centered InnovationIvrea’s Blue House: Olivetti’s Hub of InnovationIn the early 1950s, architect Eduardo Vittoria designed Olivetti’s “Blue House” in Ivrea — a bold experiment in architecture and research. Blending Mediterranean aesthetics with functional design, it became a hub for technological innovation and a symbol of human-centered progress.Episode 30 of OLIverse retraces how this iconic building evolved into a UNESCO World Heritage site and a concrete testament to Olivetti’s enduring vision.
2025-09-1815 min
#OLIverse, deep dives into OlivettiOLIverse - 29 - DESIGN - Form and Function: the Power of Olivetti DesignOlivetti: A Legacy of Design and InnovationFrom typewriters to electronic devices, design was never just aesthetics for Olivetti — it was identity, function, and communication.This episode explores how the “Olivetti style” blended technology, ergonomics, and beauty, creating products that became icons of modernity and earned global recognition.
2025-09-1115 min
#OLIverse, deep dives into OlivettiOLIverse - 28 - PEOPLE - Roberto Olivetti: the Pioneer of Italian ElectronicsRoberto Olivetti shaped Italy’s path into the electronic age.Visionary and determined, he created the nation’s first electronic research laboratory and introduced the groundbreaking Elea 9003, a milestone in European computing.His legacy blends technological foresight with cultural ambition, revealing how innovation can redefine both industry and society.
2025-09-0425 min
#OLIverse, deep dives into OlivettiOLIverse - 27 - WORK - Equality at Olivetti: Women in the FactoryHow did Olivetti support women in the workplace when most companies did not?This episode of OLIverse explores the evolution of women’s roles in Olivetti factories from the 1920s to the 1960s — highlighting improved conditions, access to training, and a culture of respect that set the company apart in a male-dominated industrial world.Discover how Olivetti fostered inclusion, reshaped factory life, and anticipated key themes of today’s gender equality debates.
2025-07-3130 min
#OLIverse, deep dives into OlivettiOLIverse - 26 - WELFARE - Beyond Work: Olivetti's Care for FamiliesOlivetti’s Pioneering Social Welfare for Children and FamiliesLong before corporate benefits became the norm, Olivetti built a system of care that supported families from pregnancy to preschool — with advanced maternity benefits, pediatric clinics, nurseries, and summer camps.This episode explores how Olivetti’s vision turned social responsibility into daily reality: creating healthier, happier communities and setting a standard that inspired generations. Discover a story where industry and humanity moved forward together.
2025-07-2410 min
#OLIverse, deep dives into OlivettiOLIverse - 25 - PRODUCTS - Olivetti: the Evolution of Portable TypewritersOlivetti: The Evolution of Portable TypewritersFrom heavy office machines to design icons you could carry anywhere. This episode retraces Olivetti’s bold move into the world of portable typewriters — starting with the MP1 and reaching its creative peak with the legendary Lettera 22, a masterpiece that changed not just how people worked, but how they connected with words.Discover how innovation and design transformed a tool into a cultural phenomenon, paving the way for later models like the Lettera 32 and the iconic Valentine.
2025-07-1711 min
#OLIverse, deep dives into OlivettiOLIverse - 24 - ARCHITECTURE - Olivetti in Brazil: Zanuso's Modular FactoryOlivetti in Brazil: Zanuso’s Modular Factory ArchitectureIn the mid-20th century, Olivetti looked beyond Italy and built a factory in São Paulo, Brazil — reimagined by architect Marco Zanuso as an open, modular, and climate-conscious industrial space.This episode explores how triangular domes, natural light, and design flexibility created a workspace ahead of its time, reflecting Olivetti’s unique blend of technology, humanism, and architecture.
2025-07-1013 min
#OLIverse, deep dives into OlivettiOLIverse - 23 - DESIGN - Art Meets Numbers: Olivetti’s Calculator AdvertisingOlivetti: Mechanical Calculator Advertising CampaignsHow do you make a calculating machine captivating?From 1940 to 1970, Olivetti’s vision went beyond functionality — turning calculators into symbols of style, precision, and modernity. This episode explores how designers like Giovanni Pintori and Walter Ballmer transformed technical products into cultural icons through bold graphics, abstract shapes, and lifestyle storytelling.Discover the creative strategies that built a brand image as innovative as its technology — and why even the best campaigns couldn’t stop the rise of electronics.
2025-07-0337 min
#OLIverse, deep dives into OlivettiOLIverse - 22 - PEOPLE - Natale Capellaro: Olivetti's Self-Taught Genius EngineerNatale Capellaro: Olivetti’s Self-Taught Genius EngineerFrom apprentice to mastermind. This episode tells the extraordinary story of Natale Capellaro, the son of a shoemaker who became one of Olivetti’s most brilliant technical minds.With no formal engineering degree, Capellaro revolutionized typewriter production and later designed groundbreaking mechanical calculators — making Olivetti a world leader in computation. A journey of talent, vision, and relentless curiosity.
2025-06-2629 min
#OLIverse, deep dives into OlivettiOLIverse - 21 - TECHNOLOGY - Olivetti in Silicon Valley: from New Canaan to CupertinoOlivetti in Silicon Valley: from New Canaan to CupertinoHow did a historic Italian company find its way into the world of electronics and computing?This episode traces Olivetti’s bold leap into innovation — from the experimental lab in New Canaan, USA, to the groundbreaking Elea computers developed at the Laboratorio di Ricerche Elettroniche in Italy.We follow the rise, transformation, and revival of Olivetti’s electronic research, all the way to the opening of a new lab in Cupertino, in the heart of Silicon Valley.A story of vision, technology, and a comp...
2025-06-1925 min
#OLIverse, deep dives into OlivettiOLIverse - 20 - WORK - Poets in the Factory: Olivetti's Humanist EnterprisePoets in the Factory: When Culture Met Industry at OlivettiFrom the 1940s to the 1980s, Olivetti invited poets, novelists, and intellectuals not to decorate his company — but to shape it. This episode explores how Olivetti built an enterprise where engineers worked alongside writers, and where culture was considered essential to progress. Literary minds were placed in departments like advertising, HR, and social services, contributing to innovative communication, workplace well-being, and the soul of a visionary industrial model. Discover a story where economy met poetry — and both thrived.
2025-06-1213 min
#OLIverse, deep dives into OlivettiOLIverse - 19 - WELFARE - People First: The Burzio Fund and Olivetti’s Social VisionPeople First: The Burzio Fund and Olivetti’s Social VisionIn 1932, Olivetti established the Domenico Burzio Fund, a quiet but powerful expression of corporate social responsibility. Named after the company’s first Technical Director — remembered for his deep humanity and care for workers — the fund offered discreet, personal support to employees in times of hardship.This episode explores how Olivetti translated ethics into action, building a workplace culture rooted in dignity, trust, and solidarity — long before these values became standard in the business world.
2025-06-0511 min
#OLIverse, deep dives into OlivettiOLIverse - 18 - PRODUCTS - Lexikon: the Typewriter that Spoke to the WorldLexikon and Beyond: Olivetti’s Typewriting RevolutionFrom the mechanical elegance of the Lexikon 80 — a global success and MoMA design icon — to the era of electric and electronic innovation, this episode traces Olivetti’s professional typewriters as symbols of both form and function.Discover how these machines helped shape the future of office technology, blending precision engineering, cutting-edge design, and a vision that would eventually lead to the world of personal computing.
2025-05-2913 min
#OLIverse, deep dives into OlivettiOLIverse - 17 - ARCHITECTURE - Carlo Scarpa and the Olivetti Store in VeniceDesign in Every Detail: The Olivetti Store in VeniceThis episode explores Olivetti’s belief that beauty and function should define not just its products, but its spaces — including its retail stores. At the heart of this vision stands the Venice showroom, designed in 1957 by Carlo Scarpa, a masterpiece of architecture, balance, and precision.Set near St. Mark’s Square, the store embodied Olivetti’s identity through spatial elegance and material innovation. Though it later closed for economic reasons, today it lives on as a public museum thanks to the FAI...
2025-05-2212 min
#OLIverse, deep dives into OlivettiOLIverse - 16 - DESIGN - The Poetry of Publicity: Olivetti's 1930s CampaignsAdvertising as Art: Olivetti’s Visual RevolutionIn the 1930s, Adriano Olivetti reimagined advertising—not as a tool to sell, but as a way to inspire. This episode explores how Olivetti’s campaigns became cultural artifacts, crafted in collaboration with artists and designers to evoke beauty, meaning, and emotion.From iconic images like La rosa nel calamaio to the launch of the Studio 42, discover how Olivetti turned visual language into an enduring expression of its values and identity.
2025-05-1509 min
#OLIverse, deep dives into OlivettiOLIverse - 15 - PEOPLE - Dino Olivetti: Innovator and InternationalistDino Olivetti, the youngest son of founder Camillo Olivetti, played a pivotal yet often overlooked role in shaping the company’s international future. This episode traces Dino’s formative years abroad, his strategic push into the U.S. market, and his early advocacy for electronic innovation.Despite internal conflicts, Dino left a lasting mark on Olivetti’s global vision.Discover the man behind the company’s digital turn — and how his ideas resonated far beyond Ivrea.
2025-05-0810 min
#OLIverse, deep dives into OlivettiOLIverse - 14 - TECHNOLOGY - Olivetti's Sintering Technology and TecsinterIn this episode, we uncover the little-known but highly innovative role of sintering in Olivetti’s manufacturing history. From the 1950s to the 1980s, Olivetti became one of Italy’s early pioneers in this process—compacting and heating metal powders to produce precise, high-performance components.Discover how this cutting-edge technique supported the production of Olivetti’s business machines, led to patents and international acclaim, and eventually gave rise to Tecsinter, a specialized subsidiary that marked a new industrial chapter.
2025-05-0110 min
#OLIverse, deep dives into OlivettiOLIverse - 13 - WORK - How Olivetti trained Five Generations of InnovatorsThis episode traces the evolution of technical education at Olivetti—from early on-the-job learning to the creation of structured programs like the Centro Formazione Meccanici (CFM) and the Olivetti Technical Institute.Discover how the company pioneered internal training models to keep pace with innovation, and how shifts in education and technology led to new approaches, including the transition to Elea spa. A story of skills, vision, and the making of industrial excellence.
2025-04-2410 min