Ettore Sottsass was born in Innsbruck in 1917. He graduated from Turin Polytechnic in 1939. He began his profession as an architect in Milan in 1947. In 1958 he started working with Olivetti as a design consultant, designing the first Italian electronic calculator and the Praxis, Tekne and Valentine typewriters in 1959.In 1980 he founded the Sottsass Associati studio, where he created the 'Memphis' experience in 1981, which became the symbol of new design.His works are part of permanent collections of important museums worldwide. His collaboration with Bitossi dates back to 1955.