Infobar A02 by Naoto Fukasawa for KDDI

Japanese designer Naoto Fukasawa, who appeared in our latest movie filmed as part of Dezeen and MINI World Tour, is behind the minimal design of this mobile phone made by Japanese company KDDI (+ movie).

Infobar A02 by Naoto Fukusawa for au

Fukasawa, also known for his work with for Japanese brand MUJI, came up with a slim, slightly curved aluminium frame for his latest Infobar phone for KDDI’s design series au.

Infobar A02 by Naoto Fukusawa for au

The Infobar A02’s user interface is iida 2.0, a KDDI-developed version of Android that allows users to customise their home screen with their favourite content.

Infobar A02 by Naoto Fukusawa for au

Fukasawa worked with the interface designers to make the phone simple to use and understand. “The movement or manipulation is very intuitive,” he explains in the movie (below). “So people don’t need to read any kind of manual or anything – you intuitively understand.”

Like Windows Phone 8, iida is based on a scrolling screen of variously sized tiles, while the sounds were created by Japanese pop star Cornelius. The buttons on the side of the phone are designed to line up with the tiles displayed on the screen.

Infobar A02 by Naoto Fukusawa for au

The phone launches next month and comes in three colour options: grey, blue and a combination of red, white and lilac inspired by Japanese koi carp.

Infobar A02 by Naoto Fukusawa for au

This isn’t the first phone Fukasawa has created for KDDI – the Infobar 2, which featured buttons in different colours, appeared in 2007.

Infobar A02 by Naoto Fukusawa for au

Fukasawa discussed the impact of digital technology on furniture design in a movie we filmed in Milan last month for Dezeen and MINI World Tour.

Infobar A02 by Naoto Fukusawa for au

Recent work by Fukasawa we’ve published includes a set of minimal dials to monitor air temperature, pressure and humidity and a wooden stool with a steel footrest – see all design by Naoto Fukasawa.

Infobar A02 by Naoto Fukusawa for au

Other phones we’ve featured include a mobile that charges using the heat in your pocket and another that’s powered by sugary drinks – see all mobile phones on Dezeen.

Infobar A02 by Naoto Fukusawa for au

The post Infobar A02 by Naoto Fukasawa
for KDDI
appeared first on Dezeen.

X-RAY by Tokujin Yoshioka for KDDI

X-RAY by Tokujin Yoshioka for KDDI

Japanese designer Tokujin Yoshioka has created a transparent mobile phone.

X-RAY by Tokujin Yoshioka for KDDI

Called X-RAY, the design was created for telecommunications company KDDI and will be on show KDDI Designing Studio in Tokyo from 19 October.

X-RAY by Tokujin Yoshioka for KDDI

See all our stories about Tokujin Yoshioka »

X-RAY by Tokujin Yoshioka for KDDI

Here’s a little text from the designer:


X-RAY for KDDI iida by Tokujin Yoshioka

Apart from arranging visual appearance, I have pondered a design without a shape. This collaboration project started with an enthusiasm of designing a new mobile phone that infuses a fresh, striking idea into today’s diversified mobile designs. I came to reach an idea of “designing from inside.”

X-RAY by Tokujin Yoshioka for KDDI

X-RAY is a brand new proposal of a mobile phone with its beautiful transparency and deep texture made by using a special material.


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