Inside Olivetti: The Psychology Lab That Transformed Work

The 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 Circuits

This 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 Identity

In 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 101

Engineer, 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 Line

In 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 Planning

This 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 Pioneer

In 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 Innovation

In 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.