Teenage Engineering plans to exit synthesizer business, CEO says
Teenage Engineering CEO Jesper Kouthoofd told Highsnobiety that the company intends to stop producing synthesizers, including the OP-1. He said the decision was announced during a reorganization last fall, with products no longer central to the business. The company, also known for design collaborations, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
CEO Jesper Kouthoofd told Highsnobiety that Teenage Engineering intends to stop making synthesizers, including the OP-1. He reportedly informed staff during a fall reorganization that products would no longer be central to the business.
The company also works as a design firm, with collaborations involving Ikea, Nothing, and Playdate. Its own output has largely focused on music and audio devices, such as the OP-1, OP-XY, EP-133, and TP-7. The OP-1 arrived in 2011 and became important to the company's success. Teenage Engineering did not immediately respond to a comment request.
Musicians, producers, and collectors who value Teenage Engineering's instruments may face fewer future options and possibly higher resale interest in existing models. Design and technology partners could see the company lean further into consultancy or non-synth projects. Fans of unusual consumer gadgets may lose a distinctive source of experimental hardware. The shift could also signal how some niche hardware firms may prioritize design services over product lines, though effects remain uncertain.