Carlo Ratti's Objectify series explores Italy's Telepass as a design icon

Carlo Ratti, an architect, introduces a summer series for Wallpaper* called 'Objectify,' which explores everyday Italian items. The series begins with a focus on the Telepass, an electronic toll-collection device created in 1986 by three engineers at Sixcom. Italy pioneered the first nationwide electronic toll-collection system in 1989, aligning with the Italia '90 World Cup. The distinctive beep of the Telepass has become a hallmark of Italian driving culture. Often referred to as 'spectacularly ugly,' it has transitioned into a common term. In 2024, subscription fees doubled, shedding light on its often-overlooked importance. The Telepass also produces extensive data, forming a significant real-time mobility-sensing network. Ratti, who leads the Senseable City Lab at MIT, seeks to celebrate unremarkable Italian designs.