Measuring as a form of culture
An original book just published tells the story of measurement as a creative act that generates growth
Measuring to learn more. To grow, or rather to be able to develop. To learn more precisely about the world around us. And measurement as a discipline that lays the foundations for imagination. Measuring not only as an act of engineering or statistics, but as a profound act of culture (a form of production even). These concepts are explored in Katà Métron, Il libro della misura (Katà Métron, the book of measuring), edited by Riccardo Varvelli. A literary and technical experiment, this is a book to read fully and a tool to aid thinking.
The brainchild of Enrico Loccioni (who, in addition to the company that bears his name, has also set up a publisher and has a specific and notable vision of business), Katà Métron was born from humans’ experience of business and curiosity. And from the very first pages, it is clear that this is a particular editorial “product”. It is not a historical essay, as is explained, a scientific text or a children’s book (even though it has a bright yellow hardcover and features illustrations), and nor is it a design volume. Rather, it’s “all these things together”. Its particularity begins with the title – katà métron in ancient Greek means “according to the right measure”. The idea behind the book is to provide an account of measurement and measuring as parts “of the history and development of man”. Measuring, therefore, to understand, improve, overcome limits and innovate. These are actions that, on closer inspection, form the basis of any self-respecting company.
Varvelli is not the only one whose work involves measuring and measure – there are also engineers, designers, data scientists, philosophers and trainers. Each is intent on offering their point of view, an expression of measuring in everyday life. On top of this (under the supervision of Corraini Edizioni), there are also illustrations by Harriet Russell. Designed as an educational book for a master’s degree on measure, the book then became a connected object, combining teaching with play, art with engineering, design with philosophy, matter with the network.
Through a series of codes, readers can also enter the digital world of the book, which becomes a constantly evolving collection of tailor-made content.
A simple book only in appearance, Katà Métron should be read carefully and with curiosity, in the knowledge that what you have before you is a product that is the result of a community, of an endeavour of knowledge that Loccioni himself is quick to outline, setting the tone for everything and providing, on closer inspection, the perfect definition of a well-rounded business: “A community of work that gathers around a project, rather than along the production line; an organisation in which there are no leaders, hierarchies, divisions, but multidisciplinary teams working to find the right solution; a place where people, collaborators and non-employees, hold the greatest value, stakeholders in the work who invest their years of study in a job they help to develop”.
Katà Métron. Il libro della misura (Katà Métron. The Book of Measurement)
Riccardo Varvelli (ed.)
Desiderio Editore, 2023
An original book just published tells the story of measurement as a creative act that generates growth
Measuring to learn more. To grow, or rather to be able to develop. To learn more precisely about the world around us. And measurement as a discipline that lays the foundations for imagination. Measuring not only as an act of engineering or statistics, but as a profound act of culture (a form of production even). These concepts are explored in Katà Métron, Il libro della misura (Katà Métron, the book of measuring), edited by Riccardo Varvelli. A literary and technical experiment, this is a book to read fully and a tool to aid thinking.
The brainchild of Enrico Loccioni (who, in addition to the company that bears his name, has also set up a publisher and has a specific and notable vision of business), Katà Métron was born from humans’ experience of business and curiosity. And from the very first pages, it is clear that this is a particular editorial “product”. It is not a historical essay, as is explained, a scientific text or a children’s book (even though it has a bright yellow hardcover and features illustrations), and nor is it a design volume. Rather, it’s “all these things together”. Its particularity begins with the title – katà métron in ancient Greek means “according to the right measure”. The idea behind the book is to provide an account of measurement and measuring as parts “of the history and development of man”. Measuring, therefore, to understand, improve, overcome limits and innovate. These are actions that, on closer inspection, form the basis of any self-respecting company.
Varvelli is not the only one whose work involves measuring and measure – there are also engineers, designers, data scientists, philosophers and trainers. Each is intent on offering their point of view, an expression of measuring in everyday life. On top of this (under the supervision of Corraini Edizioni), there are also illustrations by Harriet Russell. Designed as an educational book for a master’s degree on measure, the book then became a connected object, combining teaching with play, art with engineering, design with philosophy, matter with the network.
Through a series of codes, readers can also enter the digital world of the book, which becomes a constantly evolving collection of tailor-made content.
A simple book only in appearance, Katà Métron should be read carefully and with curiosity, in the knowledge that what you have before you is a product that is the result of a community, of an endeavour of knowledge that Loccioni himself is quick to outline, setting the tone for everything and providing, on closer inspection, the perfect definition of a well-rounded business: “A community of work that gathers around a project, rather than along the production line; an organisation in which there are no leaders, hierarchies, divisions, but multidisciplinary teams working to find the right solution; a place where people, collaborators and non-employees, hold the greatest value, stakeholders in the work who invest their years of study in a job they help to develop”.
Katà Métron. Il libro della misura (Katà Métron. The Book of Measurement)
Riccardo Varvelli (ed.)
Desiderio Editore, 2023