Claim Ownership#OLIverse, deep dives into Olivetti
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Step into #OLIverse: Where History Meets Innovation
Join us on a captivating journey through the groundbreaking legacy of Olivetti, reimagined with the power of AI.
From visionary ideas to iconic designs, each episode brings history to life in a fresh, immersive way. Whether you're a design enthusiast, a tech lover, or simply curious about the stories that shaped the modern world, #OLIverse is your destination for inspiration and discovery.
Tune in and experience Olivetti like never before!
Join us on a captivating journey through the groundbreaking legacy of Olivetti, reimagined with the power of AI.
From visionary ideas to iconic designs, each episode brings history to life in a fresh, immersive way. Whether you're a design enthusiast, a tech lover, or simply curious about the stories that shaped the modern world, #OLIverse is your destination for inspiration and discovery.
Tune in and experience Olivetti like never before!
45 Episodes
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Sottsass 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 episode reveals how Olivetti and Sottsass redefined the modern office by turning rational design into a shared experienceThis episode includes AI-generated content.
Olivetti 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 Archivi Olivetti for the Milano Cortina 2026 Cultural Olympiad.It’s a journey of innovation that continues today through the TIM Group—of which Olivetti is a part—as an official sponsor of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.This episode includes AI-generated content.
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 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-generated content.
How 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 includes AI-generated content.
Marisa 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 for women in technology, management, and innovation.This episode includes AI-generated content.
Inside 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.This episode includes AI-generated content.
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 became an integral part of the company’s human-centered philosophy, influencing modern concepts of workplace welfare and corporate culture.
Olivetti 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.
“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.
Olivetti’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 became identity — and identity became legacy.This episode includes AI-generated content.
Pier 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.
Olivetti’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.
Olivetti’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.
Olivetti 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.
Ivrea’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.
Olivetti: 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.
Roberto 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.
How 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.
Olivetti’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.
Olivetti: 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.
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