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Books

Ettore Sottsass, Jnr: more than just a funny name

A review of Sottsass, by Philippe Thomé. This book of essays is the perfect tribute to the Italian godfather of modern design

17 May 2014

9:00 AM

17 May 2014

9:00 AM

Sottsass Philippe Thomé

Phaidon Press, pp.470, £100, ISBN: 978-714865843

Personally, I have always been sensitive about a credibility gap, a difference in prestige, between literary and visual cultures.  More than 30 years ago, Frederic Raphael wrote a teasing piece in the TLS mentioning an Italian designer with a funny name, as if to disparage design as a whole. I boldly wrote in defence and, surprisingly, my letter was published.

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