RIP OP-1: Teenage Engineering is actually killing its own synthesizers
The minimalist Swedish design gods who made music gear look like expensive futuristic calculators are apparently done making music gear altogether. Because why make art when you can design overpriced Swedish particle board?
Founder and CEO Jesper Kouthoofd dropped the bombshell in a recent interview that the company plans to completely axe its synthesizer manufacturing division. That includes the legendary OP-1 synthesizer that basically put the boutique brand on the map back in 2011 with its quirky workflow and cult-like pricing.
Instead of sticking to audio gear, Teenage Engineering intends to pivot away from letting its business be defined purely by hardware production. The roughly 100-person Swedish studio has built a reputation over the years as a multifaceted design powerhouse rather than just a traditional music instrument manufacturer.
Over the last year alone, the company has managed to dabble in everything from designing PC cases like the Computer-2 to churning out compact samplers and mixers like the EP-40, EP-2350, and the EP-136 KO II. Historically, the firm also handled external collaborations, lending its signature aesthetic to household giants like IKEA, tech upstarts like Nothing, and handheld gaming consoles like the Playdate.
Despite generating around $46 million in annual revenue and manufacturing nearly all of its iconic gear in-house—ranging from the OP-XY to the pocket-friendly EP-133 and TP-7 recorder—leadership feels the brand has outgrown dedicated music boxes. The internal restructuring initiated last year officially spells the end of an era for electronic musicians who loved paying four figures for tiny plastic knobs.
The inevitable corporate trajectory demands that every beloved creative boutique eventually trades its soul for lifestyle branding and minimalist desk accessories. Soon, nobody will remember what a synthesizer even looks like without a built-in Bluetooth stapler attachment.
Source: Highsnobiety
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