Description

The year 2010 was marked by an atmosphere of excitement at the dawn of smartphones and social media. As people began using iPhones, Twitter, Facebook, and watching events and live music streamed via Ustream, a sense of rapid change filled the air. It was in this context that the planning of an Android-based INFOBAR progressed.

The core of smartphone design lies in the user interface (UI). The proposal envisioned a collaboration between product designer Naoto Fukasawa and interface designer Yugo Nakamura—a combination considered the strongest possible. The result was INFOBAR A01, which brought together a soft, friendly form featuring the iconic tile keys that define INFOBAR, and an iida UI seamlessly integrated with that form.

At the time, Android UI design was still immature, with icon designs lacking consistency. Nakamura approached this challenge through the design principles of “modules” and “composition,” creating a UI that remains visually coherent regardless of the icons used, while allowing users freedom to customize. The result was an interface combining fashion sensibility and playfulness, marking a new stage in the integration of hardware and software design.

【Awards】
2011: Good Design Award

【Collections】
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis

Source: Sunahara, Satoshi (2017). *Keitai no Keitaigaku [The Morphology of Mobile Phones]*. Rokuyosha.