Teenage Engineering to phase out synthesizer production
Jesper Kouthoofd, founder of the design-led electronics firm Teenage Engineering, has signaled a radical shift for the company: he plans to cease production of its signature synthesizers. This move threatens the future of the iconic OP-1, the device that catapulted the brand to international prominence more than a decade ago.
The announcement stems from an internal reorganization initiated last fall. Kouthoofd argues that the company’s identity has become too tethered to its audio hardware, despite the firm’s successful collaborations with brands like Ikea, Nothing, and the makers of the Playdate console. By moving away from hardware staples such as the OP-1, OP-XY, and EP-133, Kouthoofd aims to pivot toward a broader design-centric business model.
“Everyone was like, ‘What are you talking about?’ But I’ve come to the conclusion that, for us, the products aren’t the business,” Kouthoofd told Highsnobiety. “We can be so much more than that.” The company has not provided further clarification regarding the timeline for discontinuing current models, and representatives did not respond to requests for comment.
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