George Sowden
Encyclopedia
George J. Sowden was born in Leeds
, UK in 1942. He studied architecture at Gloucestershire College of Art in the 1960s. He moved to Milano in 1970 where he started working with Ettore Sottsass
and Olivetti
. In 1981, he was one of the co-founders of the Memphis Group
, the design movement that had a significant impact on design aesthetics in the eighties.
The same year he founded his design studio, SowdenDesign, and has since collaborated with numerous world famous companies, such as Olivetti
, Alessi, Bodum, Guzzini, Lorenz, Rancilio
, Steelcase
, Swatch
, Segis, Memphis
, IPM , Moulinex, Telecom Italia
, Tefal
and Pyrex
.
George Sowden has received numerous awards including, in 1991, the prestigious ADI Compasso d'Oro
Award for design excellence Olivetti
, Fax OFX420.
In 2010, Sowden developed the SoftBrew
coffee brewing device.
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, UK in 1942. He studied architecture at Gloucestershire College of Art in the 1960s. He moved to Milano in 1970 where he started working with Ettore Sottsass
Ettore Sottsass
Ettore Sottsass was an Italian architect and designer of the late 20th century. His body of designs included furniture, jewellery, glass, lighting and office machine design.-Early career:...
and Olivetti
Olivetti
Olivetti S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of computers, printers and other business machines.- Founding :The company was founded as a typewriter manufacturer in 1908 in Ivrea, near Turin, by Camillo Olivetti. The firm was mainly developed by his son Adriano Olivetti...
. In 1981, he was one of the co-founders of the Memphis Group
Memphis Group
The Memphis Group was an Italian design and architecture group started by Ettore Sottsass that designed Post Modern furniture, fabrics, ceramics, glass and metal objects from 1981-1987.-Origins:...
, the design movement that had a significant impact on design aesthetics in the eighties.
The same year he founded his design studio, SowdenDesign, and has since collaborated with numerous world famous companies, such as Olivetti
Olivetti
Olivetti S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of computers, printers and other business machines.- Founding :The company was founded as a typewriter manufacturer in 1908 in Ivrea, near Turin, by Camillo Olivetti. The firm was mainly developed by his son Adriano Olivetti...
, Alessi, Bodum, Guzzini, Lorenz, Rancilio
Rancilio
Rancilio is an espresso machine manufacturer, founded in 1927 by Roberto Rancilio in Parabiago, Milan, Italy. Rancilio would become best known for its innovative distribution networks, effective use of industrial design and reputable reliability....
, Steelcase
Steelcase
Steelcase is an international office furniture company founded in 1912 in Grand Rapids, Michigan — as The Metal Office Furniture Company. The company at the time specialized in file cabinets and safes. Today, the company sells products related to interior architecture, furniture and technology...
, Swatch
Swatch
Swatch is a brand name for a line of wrist watches from the Swatch Group, a Swiss conglomerate with vertical control of the production of Swiss watches and related products...
, Segis, Memphis
Memphis Group
The Memphis Group was an Italian design and architecture group started by Ettore Sottsass that designed Post Modern furniture, fabrics, ceramics, glass and metal objects from 1981-1987.-Origins:...
, IPM , Moulinex, Telecom Italia
Telecom Italia
Telecom Italia is the largest Italian telecommunications company, also active in the media and manufacturing industries. Now a private concern listed on the Borsa Italiana, it was founded in 1994 by the merger of several state-owned telecommunications companies, the most important of which was...
, Tefal
Tefal
Tefal is a French cookware and small appliance manufacturer owned by Groupe SEB. Its name is a portmanteau of the words TEFlon and ALuminium.Tefal is known for creating the non-stick cookware category....
and Pyrex
Pyrex
Pyrex is a brand name for glassware, introduced by Corning Incorporated in 1915.Originally, Pyrex was made from borosilicate glass. In the 1940s the composition was changed for some products to tempered soda-lime glass, which is the most common form of glass used in glass bakeware in the US and has...
.
George Sowden has received numerous awards including, in 1991, the prestigious ADI Compasso d'Oro
Compasso d'Oro
Compasso d'Oro is the name of an Industrial Design award originated in Italy in 1954 by the La Rinascente company from an original idea of Gio Ponti and Alberto Rosselli. From 1964 it has been hosted exclusively by Associazione per il Disegno Industriale . It is the first and most recognized award...
Award for design excellence Olivetti
Olivetti
Olivetti S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of computers, printers and other business machines.- Founding :The company was founded as a typewriter manufacturer in 1908 in Ivrea, near Turin, by Camillo Olivetti. The firm was mainly developed by his son Adriano Olivetti...
, Fax OFX420.
In 2010, Sowden developed the SoftBrew
SoftBrew
A Softbrew is a simple coffee brewing device which was invented in Italy in 2010 by designer George Sowden. Unlike the French press, the Softbrew filter does not need "pressing", thus the coffee benefits from full contact with the water at all times....
coffee brewing device.