Gizmo series
Roland TR-808
Roland · Drum machine · 1980
- From the Laurence King book Gizmo: The Retro-Tech We Loved and Lost — May 2026
- Featured in The Guardian · The Times · Elle Decoration
- Free UK delivery on every order · Worldwide shipping
The TR-808 was discontinued in 1983, widely considered a commercial failure. Within a decade it had become the rhythmic backbone of hip-hop, house, electro, and pop - its bass drum and cowbell now more recognisable than the acoustic instruments it was meant to replace.
About this print
About this print
The Roland TR-808 is perhaps the most influential instrument of the last fifty years. Released in 1980 and discontinued by 1983, it was intended as an affordable alternative to real drums - but its booming bass drum, snappy snare, and cowbell became the foundation of hip-hop, electro, and countless pop hits. From "Planet Rock" to "Sexual Healing," from Kanye West to Phil Collins, the 808 is everywhere.
This illustration captures the 808's iconic design - the coloured buttons, the distinctive form factor, the interface that launched a thousand drum patterns. It's a machine whose sounds are now more recognisable than the acoustic drums it was meant to replace.
The Gizmo series
The Gizmo series
Gizmo is a collection of design-led art prints built around the machines that shaped how we made music, wrote code, played and connected with the world. Synthesisers and drum machines. Cameras and home computers. Calculators and handheld devices that once felt like the future.
Each print is a carefully constructed illustration that isolates what made an object memorable - its proportions, controls, typography, surfaces, and small acts of engineering intelligence. Not retro sentimentality, but honest observation: what made these machines distinctive, how they looked when they were new, and why their forms still resonate.
Adapted from and inspired by Simon Tyler's forthcoming book Gizmo: Retro-Tech We Loved and Lost, published by Laurence King in May 2026.
Paper and printing
Paper and printing
All prints are produced to order on 250gsm archival matte paper using pigment-based inks, chosen for colour accuracy and long-term stability.
Each print is rolled in acid-free tissue and shipped in a rigid cardboard tube, sealed for moisture protection, ready for framing on arrival.
Dimensions
Dimensions
Large · 70 × 50 cm · 28 × 20 in
XLarge · 100 × 70 cm · 40 × 28 in
Delivery
Delivery
UK: Free · 3-5 working days
Europe: €8.50 · 3-7 working days · No customs charges
USA & Canada: $8.95 / $12.00 CAD · 5-10 working days
Australia: $14.00 AUD · 5-10 working days
Rest of World: £14.95 · 7-14 working days
All prints are produced to order and dispatched within 1-3 working days. Orders placed before 5pm GMT ship the same day. You'll receive tracking information by email once dispatched.
Orders outside Europe may be subject to local customs charges on delivery - these are the responsibility of the recipient.
Returns
Returns
Returns accepted within 30 days. Email returns@axisophy.com with your order number and we'll provide return instructions.
Return postage is the customer's responsibility except where the print arrives damaged or there's been an error - in which case we'll arrange a replacement or refund immediately, no return needed.