Andries Van Onck (1928-2018) studied Industrial Design in the Netherlands before attending the Hochschule für Gestaltung in Ulm, with Tomas Maldonado, Walter Zeischegg and Max Bill. He lived in Italy since 1959, and worked with Ettore Sottsass Jr. on the design of the first Olivetti electronic machines. Hiroko Takeda (born in 1945) graduated from the Tokyo Academy. From 1968 until 1972 she worked with various Japanese firms in the furnishing arena. She lived and worked in Italy since 1972, with Andries Van Onck. In 1965 Andries founded his own design studio in Milan (later in Gavirate near Varese) where, with his wife Hiroko Takeda, he developed numerous design projects for companies in Italy and abroad, and received many awards for them: from domestic appliances for Zanussi and Bertazzoni to intercom and video intercom systems for Amplyvox, from cutlery for Serafino Zani to interior design accessories for Magis, and so on. Andries and Hiroko van Onck took part in numerous international exhibitions and their products are included in the permanent design collections of various museums around the world. Both published articles and books on design and design theory, and lectured at major European universities.
