Concept
The exhibition Olivetti. People, Projects, and Products is inspired by the structure of the historic retrospective Design Process Olivetti 1908-1978, offering a meaningful selection of its highlights. The narrative focus is twofold: on one hand, the central role of people in the Olivetti vision and day-to-day operations; on the other, product design as a synthesis of the ingenuity and expertise of the Ivrea-based company. The setup, curated by Navone Associati, evokes the exhibition module designed by Hans von Klier in 1978—a trapezoidal-based parallelepiped made of cardboard—which organizes a path where people, projects, and products represent the fundamental milestones of Olivetti’s evolution.
This unique retrospective brings back to light the stories and projects that made Olivetti exceptional. Among the exhibition’s highlights are iconic inventions such as those by Natale Capellaro, the revolutionary P101 calculator narrated by Gastone Garziera, the Divisumma 18, the Valentine, and the development of the Series 45. Additionally, the contribution of George Sowden is celebrated, along with his research on electronic machines, culminating in the design of the L1 System.
The exhibition includes a facsimile reproduction of part of the original 1978 catalog, printed directly onto the walls, and is enriched with interviews of key figures from that era, narrating the main products developed between 1950 and 1978.
An innovative element of the exhibition is the space dedicated to RESTART/MILANO, which reactivates Olivetti-inspired projects, creating a dynamic dialogue with the exhibition narrative. Through a careful selection of objects evoking memory, quality, and rituality, Maurizio Navone proposes typological and functional variations, resulting in a thematic collection.
On this occasion, the book Olivetti. People, Projects, and Products, published by ADI Design Museum, will also be presented, featuring contributions by Maurizio Navone, Pier Paride Vidari, Enrico Morteo, Mario Piazza, Michele Calzavara, and Carlo Antonelli.
The exhibition Olivetti. People, Projects, and Products is made possible with the support of the ADI Design Museum and in collaboration with the Olivetti Historical Archive of Ivrea.
Curated by Maurizio Navone
