Natale Capellaro and his speech at the awarding of the honorary degree

“If I already gave when I was a simple worker (and I have been for 20 years!) The demonstration of possessing particular skills, no less sure and ready was the intuition of those – first of all the unforgettable Adriano Olivetti – who put at my disposal the instrumental and moral means necessary for my research and my experiences “

BARI.“If I, in the field of designing mechanographic machines, have some merit, which the University of Bari has solemnly recognized today, many merits also have the Olivetti Company, the men who directed it at the time of my practice and those who they run it today. They have allowed the qualities with which I am endowed to find the most favorable conditions for their development. It is not too common a case, since the qualities of a designer, intuitive, creative qualities, need a climate of freedom and trust in order to flourish, like those of the artist.

If I have already given when I was a simple worker (and I have been for 20 years!) The demonstration of possessing particular skills, no less sure and ready was the intuition of those – first of all the unforgettable Adriano Olivetti – who they put at my disposal the instrumental and moral means necessary for my research and my experiences.

If design and invention have always been the purpose of my life, since they are for me work and leisure, commitment and hobby, the formation of a fierce team of young technicians full of ingenuity and will seems to me to be the most worthy goal of those who, like me, have reached the age of maturity and success. In today’s vast world of technology, collaboration in all fields has become an absolute necessity. If at the time of my youth it was possible the figure of the isolated experimenter, the creator closed in the world of his imagination and intuition, today integration, the distribution of tasks, specialization are necessary.

[…] In June 1960, after having climbed all the steps of the hierarchical ladder one by one, I was appointed Technical General Manager of the office machinery sector and consequently I was also given responsibility for the typewriter sector.

[…] The projects in progress were not to my liking, I thought it appropriate to start all over again, if this decision of mine seemed too drastic to someone, today I am happy to say that I was right. Without bringing about any change in the structure of these offices and making use of the same designers, today I am able to affirm that the new projects have been brought to that level of class that the prestige of Olivetti demands.

[…] I have always considered the collaborator as an essential element to progress, I sowed as much as I could in this field, but I reaped much, much more than I could have hoped for ».