Nokia Opens Handset Design Studio in Brazil
Nokia has opened a satellite design studio in Rio de Janeiro reflecting the increasing impact Latin American style and culture is expected to have on the future design of mobile devices and services. Based at the Design School of UniverCidade, it will bring together Nokia designers, students and established local designers to explore new trends and ideas that will influence products for the Latin American and global markets.
The satellite studio is the second in a series Nokia is establishing - the first was opened in Bangalore, India, last year.
Alastair Curtis, Nokia's Chief Designer, said, "Brazil is an incredibly vibrant and diverse place and one that is constantly transforming and developing itself in new ways. This makes it a perfect place to inspire designers. It also has a wealth of emerging new design talent that will play a key role in shaping many of the global design trends we will see in the next few years. Combining the experience of our global design team with the local creativity and perspective of the students is a very exciting and creative way to explore new ideas in this important market for Nokia."
Over the next two years, the Rio satellite studio will be involved in a range of research projects exploring new cultural, social and design influences across Brazil. Nokia designers from around the world will visit the studio to take part in the research and work directly with the students.
One of the first projects will be to study graphical design trends in Rio, looking at a range of influences from street art and graffitti through to more formal billboard advertising and promotion. Insights from this work may influence visual elements in mobile devices such as wallpapers or screen savers, or areas like packaging and marketing.
The designers will also look beyond the city to consider how mobile devices or services could be designed to meet the needs of more rural communities in Brazil and other countries around the world.
Posted to the site on 27th February 2008
