Marc Berthier, 1997
Object
In 1997, French designer Marc Berthier created a compact portable radio for Lexon, fully encased in colored silicone rubber. Named Tykho, it was designed for everyday use in spaces like the bathroom or by the pool, thanks to its water- and shock-resistant construction.
The design strips away all but the essential. Its shape is a simple rectangular block, with barely visible membrane controls on the front surface and a rubber-coated antenna that doubles as the tuning dial.
Soft materials and bright colors—lime, orange, fuchsia—contrast with the object’s strict geometry, making it both functional and immediately recognizable. Tykho is a clear example of industrial design that balances utility, durability, and a playful yet purposeful aesthetic.
Tykhon Radio and the Press
On March 20, 2000, the Lexon Tykho received an unusual distinction for a radio: it appeared on the cover of the US weekly Time, shown submerged in a bowl of water beneath the headline The Rebirth of Design.
It was the first time a design object, rather than a person, had been chosen to represent the entire issue.
The image and accompanying article marked a symbolic moment for industrial design. A small French product—simple in form and vivid in color—was being celebrated as a sign of renewed attention to the aesthetic and functional quality of everyday objects.
From that point on, the Tykho moved beyond its role as a commercial gadget and entered the realm of cultural icon. Awards, features in design and lifestyle magazines, and appearances in exhibitions and academic programs helped solidify its status. In just over two decades, as Le Monde noted, Berthier’s radio has become a symbol of contemporary French design and its capacity for accessible innovation.
Lexon Tykho in museum collextions
Within a few years of its release, the Tykho Radio was acquired by several major design museums, cementing its status as a cult object of contemporary design.
In 1999, the Museum of Modern Art in New York added the radio to its Architecture and Design collection, recognizing its symbolic and technical innovation. It was later included in the exhibition Making Music Modern (2014–2015), shown alongside historic models from Braun and Brionvega, highlighting its place in the evolution of audio design.
By 2007, the Centre Pompidou in Paris had also acquired the Tykho, followed by the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum in Washington. In each case, the acquisition was driven by the radio’s inventive use of materials, cultural relevance, and distinctive formal language. Its presence in these collections underscores its significance as a representative example of 1990s industrial design.
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Details
Lexon
La radio Tykho di Lexon è disponibile su Amazon.it >
Dimensions:
- Tykho Radio (1997) – 14 × 14 × 4.1 cm
- Tykho 3 (Bluetooth version) – 14 × 14 × 4.5 cm
Materials:
Outer casing: Soft-touch silicone rubber – water-resistant, shock-absorbing, and pleasant to the touch
Internal structure: Plastic housing containing electronic components (radio tuner, speaker, battery, circuit board)
Antenna: Flexible metal antenna coated in silicone (also functions as the tuning dial)
