1. What makes a cell phone an more a fashion accessory and not just an electronic gadget?
As mobile phones become an indispensable part of life for many people, they have developed into personalized fashion items as well. We customize our phones by decorating them with covers or stickers to our liking, and these covers have evolved to take on many forms. Some are crafted from wood or lacquer, while others bear our favorite manga.
It is because a cell phone offers so many dimensions that it has become a fashion accessory. For example, Prada's $800 cell phone called the LG Prada is a gorgeous phone, a sophisticated and stylish fashion and design statement! The idea is that your cell phone has a look and feel, and/or a personalized touch that communicates your identity to the world.
2. Name key innovations in the cell phone design evolution?
Motorola created the first "mobile" mobile phone in the 80's and changed the world forever.
In the 90's Motorola developed the "clamshell" handset which was inspired by the Star Trek series.
The Matix movie inspired Nokia 7110 phone, the "flick" open phone.
Nokia proceeded to introduce the internal antenna and the first phone to text with the Nokia 3210.
Sharp brought us the first popular cell phone with an internal camera in 2001, something we take for granted today.
Nokia developed the first dust-proof phone for developing counties, 200 million have been sold to date!
By 2004 texting hit mass market, 17 billion text messages were sent world wide thanks to bands like Motorola, Blackberry and HTC.
Nokia offered the most feature rich phone in 2007 with wi-fi/3G/GPS/SMP camera/accelerometor/MP3 player/bluetooth/Flash/RSS/Java/TV-out/8GB internal memory/internet/uPnP(Nokia N99).
Then in 2007 the apple iPhone hit the scene. The first multi-touchscreen phone! Apples 1st cell phone offered strong design aesthetics and an ease of use.
3. Tell us what is hot in cell phones right now?
Touch is in! Like the revolutionary All-in-one Apple iPhone or the Samsung Instinct Touchscreen cell phone. We like a full touch-screen interface and large display.
The Google Nexus One combines the latest in hardware from HTC with the newest Google Android software. We like the large screen and it's sensuous black body.
The rugged cell phones are catching on as well. The cool Rugged G'zOne Boulder Phone by Casion blends tough with cool to create one of the the most desirable rugged cell phones available.
4. What is the current fashion science behind cell phone design?
We are seeing transparency trending, like the Crystal Mobile Phone by BloodRabbit. Wood is interesting like the S-series Wooden concept Phone. This non-gaudy implementation of wood is very tasteful. Sleek and slim looks will be important to achieve that fashionable minimalist design look. Finally, the luxury look seems to be focused on gold. The Nokia 8800 Dirocco Gold offers 18-carat gold plating and a huge front display clock. A very classy phone that make a big statement! The GOLDVISH is the worlds most expensive mobile phone, only 3 people on the planet have one.
5. How has touch screen affected design?
Touchscreen technology will continue to evolve becoming lighter and thiner. The devise will be more flexible and more interactive by using different movements to communicate to the handset owner. The touchscreen will eventually evolve into an actual accessory we could wear on the body as well as carry around. The Nokia 888 concept phone, for example, opens us up to these possibilities.
6. What will drive the look of cell phones in the future?
The cell phone seems to adjust to the world around us, helping us stay connected to the people and things that matter most. That is why projection cell phones are the future and will drive the look and feel of the next generation of cell phones. Within 5 years all phones are forecasted to have projectors. Their goal will be to make the cell phone experience even more immersive! (is this possible?)
Cell phone manufacturers are finding creative approaches to dealing with waste. it is time to get eco-hip! The average life span of a cell phone is around 18 months. In the USA, 130 million handsets are discarded every year and in Europe the number is closer to 100 million a year. Technology meets ecology with innovative bio materials, solar powered and made from water bottles. Samsung and Nokia take the next step towards a more sustainable mobile phone. Even packaging plays an important part here.
There is also ETNA - a design revolving around the charger unit. This has two functions: storing the phone and charging it. Hanging the mobile phone on the charger unit becomes a new daily ritual.
7. What new niche cell phones aside from gaming, mobility and office work ...do you see in the future?
Cell phones have so many bells and whistles such as multitouch screens, cameras, music, video, reading books, shopping by phone, social media etc...it is evolving from a communication tool into an integrated communication devise, media terminal, credit card and remote control. Mobile terminals will follow users wherever they go and make it possible to pay, check-in and travel just by waving the phone in front of a sensor. Just recently, I was pleased by how easily I could donate money with my phone after Haiti's tragic earthquake.
Personally, I would like cell phones to offer hologram technology in the future. It would be great to receive a hologram message from a loved one or see a hologram concert taking place on your cell phone screen.
8. Talk about the future of cell phone accessories?
In my opinion, cell phone accessories must be approached from a green perspective. We need biodegradable cell phone accessories, longer battery life, and wireless earpieces that don't give us radiation or make us look like walking androids.
The Power Mat is cool, it is a slick portable mat designed for charging up about six mobile phones at one time. When a device reaches full charge, power is shut off to that device to save energy. This innovative product also offers humorous and clever advertising:
This new sustainability takes root in a voluntary, robust and ambitions way. We see an increasing eco-consciousness as people change their behavior.
9. Tell us a little about the importance of predicting what's next in product fashion in general?
It is important to predict what's next in order to understand what consumers will want before they want it. PeclersParis uses a semiotic process. We look for clues or "small signs" on how mobile technology and consumer behavior will evolve. It is a real challenge today to detect the trends mixing the conceptual approach and the intuitive creative approach.
With our socio-cultural research and our tangible creative recommendations, Peclers can help companies design the right future products for the right consumer at the right time.
10. So,you have spent some time working with us here at Monkey Syndicate. As a fashion consultant, can you tell each of us what shoes you would suggest?
For Dave I would suggest swimmer fins
For Gil I would suggest jungle fever slip-ons by vision streetwear
For Eric I would recommend MBTs, the anti-shoe
and for Hugo... well I'll have to check out his feet someday ;-)