Teenage Engineering founder and CEO Jesper Kouthoofd disclosed the plan in an interview with Highsnobiety, revealing that he informed employees during a company reorganization. Even the OP-1, the portable synthesizer that helped establish Teenage Engineering's reputation following its 2011 launch, is part of that vision.
Kouthoofd said he had concluded that "the products aren't the business," adding, "We can be so much more than that."
Beyond Synths and Sequencers
The Swedish design company's catalog includes the OP-1 Field, the OP-XY synthesizer and sequencer, the miniature Pocket Operators, and the EP-133 K.O. II sampler. Teenage Engineering has also developed a choir of wooden singing dolls and a portable machine capable of cutting vinyl records.
The company has long operated beyond conventional music gear. Its design projects include the Playdate handheld gaming console and a collaboration with IKEA on home audio products.
Prototypes and the Path Forward
The interview describes unreleased prototypes at the company's Stockholm headquarters, including a project Kouthoofd believes could reshape people's lives online. "Some of this won't be released for five to 10 years," he said, offering few specifics about what could replace synthesizers.
Kouthoofd did not disclose when synth production would end or what the transition would mean for existing devices. The original OP-1 is currently listed as unavailable on Teenage Engineering's website, while its successor, the OP-1 Field, remains for sale.
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