150 years ago Guglielmo Marconi was born, and 100 years ago the first public radio broadcast took place: since then radio has become a pillar of communication, but also immediately a design icon, a symbol of modernity decade after decade.
5 projects that made the history of radio
Between Starck, Zanuso, Sapper and Keith Haring, the radio unfolds its stories in 5 models among those on show at the ADI Design Museum in Milan, 150 years after the birth of its inventor Guglielmo Marconi.
Image courtesy of Brionvega.
Image courtesy of Brionvega.
Image courtesy of Victoria & Albert Museum.
Image courtesy of 1stDibs.
Image courtesy of Design Market.
Image courtesy of Design Market.
Image courtesy of Design Market.
Image courtesy of Design Market.
Image courtesy of Drope Gallery.
Image courtesy of Drope Gallery.
View Article details
- Lucia Brandoli
- 25 September 2024
The names of relevant companies such as Braun, Ducati (yes, Ducati) and Brionvega, as well as those of authoritative designers such as the Castiglioni brothers, Zanuso and Sapper, Le Corbusier, Starck, Panton and Loewy would make the history of this innovation, following and valorizing technological changes such as the invention of the transistor and the consequent miniaturisation of products, but also those related to materials with the advent of plastics in mass products, from bakelite to the most modern technopolymers.
ADI Design Museum in Milan has dedicated the exhibition Radio design: l'evoluzione estetica degli apparecchi radiofonici (Radio Design: the aesthetic evolution of radio sets, open until 27 September; then in Bologna at the Fondazione Cirulli, from 4 to 31 October) to this design pillar, where over fifty models from the private collection of Davide Vercelli, designer and curator, tell this story of aesthetics and innovation
The Braun SK4 radio-grammophone, designed by Dieter Rams and Hans Gugelot, stands out as one of the most influential products of the German functionalist philosophy with its minimalist design and pioneering use of materials such as plexiglass: a new standard with which Rams, promoter of the principle "Less, but better", helped inspire entire generations of designers. Another masterpiece on show is the Brionvega TS502, also known as the “Cubo”. Designed by Marco Zanuso and Richard Sapper, side by side with the important contribution of Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, with their Phonola 547 radio, a prime example of innovation in the use of materials like bakelite, which made quality design accessible to the public.
Not only aesthetics then, but also socio-cultural impact: radio as a powerful means of communication and entertainment, as an instrument of political propaganda, and as an engine of innovation in design thinking. From the way Gio Ponti launched a competition for the modernist radio through Domus, to the ‘Space Age’ design of the early 1970s, and the radio-objects for interiors of the 1990s, just as from the first valve-operated mobile radios we have come to the most microscopic digital devices. We have selected 5 of these designs that best tell this more than century-long story.
Opening image: Marco Zanuso and Richard Sapper, Radio Cubio, Brionvega. Courtesy Brionvega
Also known as the “Cube”, the Brionvega TS502, designed by Marco Zanuso and Richard Sapper, embodied the perfect balance between form and function. Its compact lines and vibrant color range made it a must-have item in Italian homes during the ‘60s and ‘70s, earning it a rightful place as a symbol of the pop culture of the era.
The Ekco A22, designed by Wells Coates in 1945, is one of the most iconic radios of post-war British design. Made from black Bakelite, its circular shape was a major innovation for the time, breaking away from traditional rectangular designs. This radio is considered a classic of modernism, successfully combining functionality and minimalist aesthetics.
Vision 2000, now a rare Space Age stereophonic Hi-Fi system, designed by Thilo Oerke for Rosita Germany in 1971, contains a Philips tape recorder and a radio tuner. The acrylic structure with a plexiglass top rests on a tulip-shaped chromed base, mounted on wheels.
The La La la Radio by Philippe Starck, designed for Thomson in the 1990s, is an iconic example of the bold and visionary design of the renowned French designer. This portable radio stands out for its unusual shape, halfway between a torch and an old stethoscope. The radio features simple and essential controls, minimized to highlight its form. Once again, Starck has managed to transform an everyday object into a statement of style.
The Pop Shop Transistor by Keith Haring is a portable radio that perfectly embodies the spirit of 1980s pop art. Characterized by Haring’s unmistakable graphic style, with stylized figures and vibrant colors, it shows how art can merge with everyday objects. A blend of functionality and New York urban culture, it stands as a true icon.