Ettore Sottsass

Ettore Sottsass (1917–2007) was an Italian architect and designer who founded the Memphis Group in 1981, launching a provocative design movement that challenged the austere rationalism of modernist furniture. His Carlton bookshelf, Tahiti lamp, and other Memphis pieces combined bold colors, geometric patterns, laminate surfaces, and playful forms in deliberate defiance of "good taste." Before Memphis, he had already made his mark designing Olivetti typewriters and computers with equally distinctive flair. Sottsass's impact on interior design transcends the Memphis Group. He demonstrated that design could be joyful, irreverent, and culturally engaged rather than merely functional. His work opened the door for postmodern eclecticism, maximalism, and the current trend of mixing patterns and styles with confident abandon. Memphis pieces remain highly collectible and continue to inspire designers who believe that interiors should provoke emotion and tell stories, not merely serve utility.

Key Characteristics

✓Founded the Memphis Group postmodern design movement
✓Challenged functionalist orthodoxy with playful, provocative forms
✓Used decorative laminates and bold patterns as primary materials
✓Combined high and low cultural references in design
✓Brought color and emotion back to furniture design
✓Influenced the shift from modernism to postmodernism

Types & Variations

Carlton Room Divider/Bookshelf (1981)

Tahiti Lamp (1981)

Ultrafragola Mirror (1970)

Olivetti Valentine Typewriter (1969)

Casablanca Sideboard (1981)

Common Materials

Printed plastic laminateLacquered woodColored glassTerrazzoNeon lightingAnodized aluminum

Works Well With These Styles

Postmodern Contemporary Modern Art Deco Mid Century Modern

Placement & Usage Tips

Memphis pieces are room-defining statements—one is usually enough. A Carlton bookshelf becomes the focal point of any room. For subtler references, Sottsass-inspired accessories like small vases or lamps introduce postmodern energy without overwhelming the space.

💡 Pro Tip

Sottsass believed design should provoke thought and emotion. Incorporating even one Memphis-inspired element—a geometric lamp, a boldly patterned rug—challenges the predictability of conventional interiors and invites conversation about the purpose of design.