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'{{Infobox company | name = Teenage Engineering | logo = Teenage Engineering logo.png | type = | founders = {{ublist|Jesper Kouthoofd|David Eriksson|Jens Rudberg|David Möllerstedt}} | hq_location = | hq_location_city = [[Stockholm]] | hq_location_country = Sweden | area_served =Worldwide | key_people = | industry = [[Consumer electronics]] | products = [[#Products|''See products here'']] | services = | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | owner = | num_employees = 30<ref name="Byrne 2013">{{cite web|url=http://www.fastcolabs.com/3016739/more-than-an-office-teenage-engineerings-minimalist-garage-is-a-tinkerers-paradise |publisher=[[Fast Company (magazine)|Fast Company]] |work=Labs |last=Byrne |first=Ciara |date=3 September 2013 |title=More Than An Office, Teenage Engineering's Minimalist Garage Is A Tinkerer’s Paradise |accessdate=30 January 2015}}</ref> | num_employees_year = 2013 | parent = | divisions = | subsid = | footnotes = | foundation = {{Start date and age|2005}} | slogan = | homepage = {{URL|teenage.engineering}} | dissolved = }} '''Teenage Engineering''' is a Swedish [[consumer electronics]] company and [[Manufacturing|manufacturer]] founded in 2005 by Jesper Kouthoofd, David Eriksson, Jens Rudberg and David Möllerstedt and based in [[Stockholm]]. Its products include electronics and [[synthesizer]]s, with its [[core product]] being the [[Teenage Engineering OP-1|OP-1]], as well as instant cameras. Their products have been well received for their aesthetic value and functionality. ==History== Teenage Engineering was founded in 2005 by Jesper Kouthoofd, Jens Rudberg, David Eriksson and later joined by David Möllerstedt, who previously headed the audio department at [[EA Digital Illusions CE|EA DICE]]. Their first product, the [[Teenage Engineering OP-1|OP-1]], was introduced at the [[NAMM Show]] in 2010.<ref name="Wolbe 2011" /> Shortly after release, Teenage Engineering produced several "accessories", which could be used to manipulate the unit's input knobs.<ref name="Ingraham 2012" /> Following the success of the OP-1, the company began working with the Stig Carlsson Foundation to develop the OD-11 speaker, inspired by a speaker of the same name manufactured by Sonab and designed by Swedish designer Stig Carlsson in 1974. It was well received for its minimalist design, a faithful reproduction of the original, and for its sound quality. Despite two early appearances at the [[Consumer Electronics Show]] and an original release date of Summer 2013, it was not released until 2014.<ref name="Gardiner 2014" /> Teenage Engineering aimed to maintain Carlsson's goal of designing a speaker for use in a "regular home", rather than one designed to be used in an unrealistically ideal, noiseless environment.<ref name="TE Carlsson Story" /> In 2013, the company collaborated with the Swedish clothing company [[Cheap Monday]] after ordering new work uniforms from them; Kouthoofd had previously collaborated with creative director, Ann-Sofie Back.<ref name="Sethi 2015">{{cite web|url=http://askaudiomag.com/articles/teenage-engineering-and-cheap-monday-launch-new-micro-synths |publisher=AskAudio |first=Rounik |last=Sethi |date=20 January 2015 |title=Teenage Engineering and Cheap Monday Launch new Micro Synths |accessdate=1 February 2015}}</ref> The companies jointly announced the [[Pocket Operator]] (PO-10) synthesizer series in January 2015.<ref name="Cheap Monday" /> The series includes three models: PO-12 rhythm, a drum machine; PO-14 sub, a bass synthesizer; and PO-16 factory, a lead synthesizer. Each model doubles as a 16-step sequencer. According to CEO Jesper Kouthoofd, Teenage Engineering sought to design synthesizers that would retail for {{US$|49}}; however, each PO actually retails for {{US$|59}}. The POs target musicians seeking a less expensive alternative to the OP-1, which currently retails for {{US$|1299}}. The series uses a minimalist design, evoking [[pocket calculator]]s and, according to Kouthoofd, [[Nintendo]]'s [[Game & Watch]] games.<ref name="Ingraham 2015" /> Sonically, they emulate vintage synthesizers, in response to the contemporary surge in the popularity of [[retro style]] electronic music gear.<ref name="Raymer 2015">{{cite web |url=http://www.ew.com/article/2015/02/23/teenage-engineerings-pocket-operators-put-real-synths-palm-your-hand |publisher=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |first=Miles |last=Raymer |date=23 February 2015 |title=Teenage Engineering's Pocket Operators put real synths in the palm of your hand |accessdate=26 February 2015}}</ref> The synthesizers debuted at the 2015 NAMM Show.<ref name="Sethi 2015" /> The Pocket Operators were a success at NAMM, and sales were estimated by third parties to be as high as 40,000 units, which delayed shipments by up to three months.<ref name="Sonic State 2015">{{cite web|url=http://www.sonicstate.com/news/2015/02/12/teenage-engineering-pocket-operator-availability-update/ |publisher=Sonic State |date=12 February 2015 |title=Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator Availability Update |accessdate=26 February 2015}}</ref> The PO-20 series of the Pocket Operators were introduced at the 2016 NAMM show. The PO-20 synthesizers have some additional effects and functionality that were not present in the original PO-10 series, but maintain the {{US$|59}} price point.<ref name="Zampollo 2016">{{cite web |url=http://www.rollingstone.it/rr-style/news-rrstyle/cheap-monday-teenage-engineering-lancia-nuova-serie-micro-synth-pocket-operators/2016-02-09/ |first=Matthew |last=Zampollo |title=Cheap Monday e Teenage Engineering lancia la nuova serie di micro-synth Pocket Operators |language=Italian |work=[[Rolling Stone (magazine)|Rolling Stone]] |date=9 February 2016 |accessdate=1 March 2016}}</ref> The PO-30 series further elaborates upon the original Pocket operators by adding a drum synthesizer made in collaboration with [[MicroTonic]], a sampler, and a voice synthesizer. These were released starting in late 2017 at a slightly increased price from previous series. PO-30 devices feature a microphone for use in recording audio samples and for transferring data. In 2018, Teenage Engineering announced a new line of audio equipment products, Frekvens, in collaboration with [[IKEA]]. The modular system takes visual cues from [[Bauhaus]] design. Founder Kouthoofd had previously collaborated with IKEA on Knäppa, a camera made of cardboard.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://creativity-online.com/work/ikea-frekvens/54352 |title=Ikea Enters the World of Music with Cult Electronics Firm Teenage Engineering |first=Ann-Christine |last=Diaz |website=AdAge |date=19 April 2018 |accessdate=22 August 2018}}</ref> On May 22, 2019, [[Panic Inc.|Panic]] announced [[Playdate (console)|Playdate]], a new [[Handheld game console|handheld video game console]] designed in collaboration with Teenage Engineering. The device features a [[Crank (mechanism)|mechanical crank]] which is specifically credited to Teenage Engineering.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2019/5/22/18628360/playdate-panic-teenage-engineering-qwop-katamari|title=Playdate is an adorable handheld with games from the creators of Qwop, Katamari, and more|last=Webster|first=Andrew|date=2019-05-22|website=The Verge|access-date=2019-05-22}}</ref> ==Awards and accolades== [[File:OP-1 Sequencer Concept.png|thumb|The [[Teenage Engineering OP-1|OP-1]] has won awards for its design and sound engines.]] * The OP-1 synthesizer won one of ten of Sweden's Design S Awards in 2012. The award committee described the OP-1 as "A technological product which through a clever colour scheme and fantastic graphics is intuitive, easily accessible and incredibly inviting. Music and machine in one".<ref name="Design S" /> * In 2014, the OP-1 was awarded second prize in [[Georgia Institute of Technology|Georgia Tech]]'s Margaret Guthman Musical Instrument Competition.<ref name="Georgia Tech" /> * In 2017, the Pocket Operator series was awarded a Good Design Award by the [[Japan Institute of Design Promotion]]. The Institute noted that while the functions of the devices were not immediately clear, the format "inspires a desire to press the buttons".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.g-mark.org/award/describe/44791 |title=pocket operator [teenage engineering] |date=October 2017 |accessdate=22 August 2018}}</ref> ==Musicians== Musicians who use Teenage Engineering products include [[Bon Iver]],<ref name="Justin Vernon" /> [[Beck]], [[Depeche Mode]], [[Jean Michel Jarre]],<ref name="Byrne 2013" /> and [[Caroline Rose]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-02-23|title=Caroline Rose offers a Track by Track breakdown of her new album, LONER: Stream|url=https://consequence.net/2018/02/caroline-rose-offers-a-track-by-track-breakdown-of-her-new-album-loner-stream/|access-date=2021-06-23|website=Consequence|language=en-US}}</ref> ==Products== * [[Teenage Engineering OP-1|OP-1]] (2011) *Frekvens (2019; with [[IKEA|Ikea]]) * [[Playdate (console)|Playdate]] (2019; with [[Panic Inc.]]) *[https://nothing.tech/products/ear-1 ear (1)] (2021; with [[Carl Pei|Nothing]]) ==References== {{reflist|refs= <ref name="Byrne 2013">{{cite web|url=http://www.fastcolabs.com/3016739/more-than-an-office-teenage-engineerings-minimalist-garage-is-a-tinkerers-paradise |publisher=[[Fast Company (magazine)|Fast Company]] |work=Labs |last=Byrne |first=Ciara |date=3 September 2013 |title=More Than An Office, Teenage Engineering's Minimalist Garage Is A Tinkerer’s Paradise |accessdate=30 January 2015}}</ref> <ref name="Wolbe 2011">{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2011/01/14/teenage-engineering-op-1-synthesizer-now-available-for-pre-order/ |publisher=[[Engadget]] |first=Trent |last=Wolbe |date=14 January 2011 |title=Teenage Engineering OP-1 synthesizer now available for pre-order, we tour its shiny new features (video) |accessdate=30 January 2015}}</ref> <ref name="Ingraham 2012">{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/8/28/3270259/teenage-engineering-op-1-accessories-launch-profile |publisher=[[The Verge]] |last=Ingraham |first=Nathan |date=28 August 2012 |title=Teenage Engineering's new OP-1 gear: it's time to crank, bend, and break the rules |accessdate=30 January 2015}}</ref> <ref name="Gardiner 2014">{{cite web|url=https://www.wired.com/2014/07/teenage-engineering-od-11/ |work=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |last=Gardiner |first=Bryan |date=21 July 2014 |title=Review: Teenage Engineering OD-11 |accessdate=30 January 2015}}</ref> <ref name="TE Carlsson Story">{{cite web|url=https://www.teenageengineering.com/products/od-11/carlssonstory |publisher=Teenage Engineering |title=Carlsson Story |accessdate=30 January 2015}}</ref> <ref name="Cheap Monday">{{cite web|url=http://www.cheapmonday.com/news/Year_2015/pocket_operators_are_here |publisher=[[Cheap Monday]] |date=22 January 2015 |title=Here They Come: The Pocket Operators! |accessdate=30 January 2015}}</ref> <ref name="Ingraham 2015">{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/1/22/7868157/teenage-engineering-pocket-operator-synthesizers |publisher=[[The Verge]] |last=Ingraham |first=Nathan |date=22 January 2015 |title=Teenage Engineering designed a set of incredible pocket synthesizers that cost $59 each |accessdate=30 January 2015}}</ref> <ref name="Design S">{{cite web|url=http://design-s.se/en/designs2012-en/winners-en/ |publisher=Design S |title=Winners |accessdate=30 January 2015}}</ref> <ref name="Georgia Tech">{{cite web |url=http://guthman.gatech.edu/2014-competition |publisher=Georgia Institute of Technology |title=2014 Competition |date=2015 |accessdate=30 January 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150114050611/http://guthman.gatech.edu/2014-competition |archivedate=14 January 2015 }}</ref> <ref name="Justin Vernon">{{cite web|url=http://blog.thecurrent.org/2016/09/justin-vernon-shares-the-stories-behind-bon-ivers-new-album-22-a-million/ |title="Justin Vernon shares the stories behind Bon Iver’s new album ’22, A Million’"}}</ref> }} ==External links== * {{Official website|teenageengineering.com}} [[Category:Manufacturing companies based in Stockholm]] [[Category:Synthesizer manufacturing companies]] [[Category:Swedish brands]] [[Category:Musical instrument manufacturing companies of Sweden]] [[Category:Manufacturing companies established in 2005]] [[Category:Swedish companies established in 2005]]'