The designer of the PRISMOID is Naoto Fukasawa, who introduced INFOBAR, neon, INFOBAR 2, and transformed the conventional wisdom of mobile phone design. Fukasawa calls the theme of this design “futuristic future,” saying “I think that people often have a fascination with a sense that is futuristic, more than a so-called realistic sense of design. Perhaps people of the past imagined a tool shaped this way before the mobile phone even existed.” The future that people imagined in the 1970s and the 1980s would even now excite senses, bringing out emotions not unlike yearning. PRISMOID embodies just such a feel. It has an unsurpassed ease of grip, thanks to a thoroughly tapered body design. Its form evokes a sense of newness, and yet also a certain yeaning. PRISMOID’s unique silhouette is borne of a deft combination of horizontal and diagonal planes. The value C4.8—indicating the dimensions of the diagonal configuration surface—boldly merges with the horizontal plane to further enhance PRISMOID’s unique charm, transcending the merely simple.
Naoto Fukasawa
Born in 1956, Yamanashi Prefecture. Fukasawa graduated from the Department of Product Design, Tama Art University in 1980. In 2003, he founded Naoto Fukasawa Design. Fukasawa has taken on numerous design jobs for leading companies in Japan, as well as design work for major brands in Europe, such as B&B ITALIA, Magis, Artemide, Danese, Boffi, vitra, ERCO, and Lamy. His design products include the “MUJI” wall-mounted CD player, the “±0” humidifier and au/KDDI’s INFOBAR and neon, which are all part of the New York Museum of Modern Art Permanent Collection. Fukasawa’s awards exceed sixty in all, including the title of Honorary Royal Designer for Industry (The Royal Society of Arts), as well aｓ the Industrial Design Excellence Awards Gold Prize (USA), the iF Gold Award (Germany), the D&AD Award, and the Mainichi Design Award. Authored books include The Contours of Design (TOTO Shuppan) and NAOTO FUKASAWA, introducing his works (Phaidon). An exhibition and publication (Hachette Fujingaho) event for “THE OUTLINE Unseen Contours” will be held with the photographer Fujii Tamotsu at 21_21 Design Sight (Tokyo Midtown) from October 16, 2009 to January 31, 2010.
21_21 DESIGN SIGHT: http://www.2121designsight.jp/
Born in 1956, Yamanashi Prefecture. Fukasawa graduated from the Department of Product Design, Tama Art University in 1980. In 2003, he founded Naoto Fukasawa Design. Fukasawa has taken on numerous design jobs for leading companies in Japan, as well as design work for major brands in Europe, such as B&B ITALIA, Magis, Artemide, Danese, Boffi, vitra, ERCO, and Lamy. His design products include the “MUJI” wall-mounted CD player, the “±0” humidifier and au/KDDI’s INFOBAR and neon, which are all part of the New York Museum of Modern Art Permanent Collection. Fukasawa’s awards exceed sixty in all, including the title of Honorary Royal Designer for Industry (The Royal Society of Arts), as well aｓ the Industrial Design Excellence Awards Gold Prize (USA), the iF Gold Award (Germany), the D&AD Award, and the Mainichi Design Award. Authored books include The Contours of Design (TOTO Shuppan) and NAOTO FUKASAWA, introducing his works (Phaidon). An exhibition and publication (Hachette Fujingaho) event for “THE OUTLINE Unseen Contours” will be held with the photographer Fujii Tamotsu at 21_21 Design Sight (Tokyo Midtown) from October 16, 2009 to January 31, 2010.
21_21 DESIGN SIGHT: http://www.2121designsight.jp/
PRISMOID means “truncated pyramid.” Just as its name suggests, the phone is uniquely formed from two overlapping truncated square pyramids. Fresh coloring also adds to PRISMOID’s charm. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter how widely a mobile phone design is accepted, but how deeply it satisfies the sensibility of the individual who holds it. Its colors—green, mat brown and white—have been selected to make a sharp, vivid impact. The colors have a definite, contrastive presence, while phone functions are highly streamlined. The mobile phone allows silky-smooth operability, with buttons a pleasure to press. PRISMOID: A mobile phone designed with an uncompromisingly exquisite shape.
PRISMOID’s futuristic look is completed with an organic EL sub display positioned on the device’s lateral surface. EZ News Flash information appears there in red letters, reminiscent of a spaceport information board in a science fiction movie. The display also indicates time and phone reception status, also in addition to accurately announcing incoming calls and messages. This interface imparts a defined intellectual presence to PRISMOID.
