Link nur auf Unterseiten benutzbar

The valentine portable typewriter, designed by Ettore Sottsass and Perry A. King in 1969, is a renowned piece of industrial design. Yet, it transcends its role as a mere piece of office equipment to become a movable design object whose users defied the traditional concept of a stationary workspace.

Available in various colors, the most iconic version is the “lipstick red” model, a vibrant departure from its more subdued predecessors. The valentine was one of the first typewriters to be made primarily from plastic. This material, known for its versatility and ease of being shaped through injection molding, was regarded as a clean, modern option, perfectly encapsulating the zeitgeist of the valentine’s era.

Originally, Olivetti (the manufacturer) dismissed the typewriter as a “cheap Chinese product” and hesitated to launch it. Despite its eventual acclaim, Sottsass himself harbored mixed feelings about the valentine. Although he had many innovative design ideas, he felt his professional identity was reduced to the success of the valentine.

Text: Ilka Hagen, Research Trainee