From the very beginning we knew Jasper Morrison's deliberately 'unsmart' smart phone for Punkt would be a thing of beauty, but little did we know that the modest mobile would shed its fuss-free black visage in favour of two new colour ways.
Minimalists fear not though – this isn't an any-colour-in-the-rainbow situation, no. More like a Maison Margiela colour scheme: pure and simple. So simple, in fact, they don't even have convoluted names. They are simply 'MP 01 White' and 'MP 01 Brown'.
'Both of the new colours are low-key but intriguing, which is in keeping with Punkt,' explains founder Petter Neby. 'The white option brings a certain aesthetic delicateness, which contrasts neatly with the phone's rugged build quality and straightforward design lines, while "MP 01 Brown" is the low-key head-turner. Brown has too long been absent from the colour palette of the world of consumer electronics. We want to take that back,' he explains. And take it back they will.
Due to be unveiled during London Design Festival, the two new colourways will be on display alongside the existing Punkt family of products when the Swiss manufacturer takes over Morrison's shop on Kingsland Road. Shop-goers will be able to pick up one of 250 limited-edition posters by award-winning illustrator Anna Kövecses, celebrated for her ability to bring a humorous, human touch to a technology-based topic, much like the modest mobile does for the lives of its owners.
Punkt’s philosophy is as much about selling a mindset as it is a handset. Shortlisted for the Wallpaper* Design Awards 2016, the deliberately dumbed down mobile phone aimed to put technology back where it belongs: in our pockets, out of sight and out of mind. Taming technology through design, the 'MP 01' sees a definite nod to German product design of the 1960s and 70s, while making the most of modern robotics: a monochrome TFT screen and intuitive interface offers the bare essentials of calls, SMS, calendar and clock. Nothing more, nothing less.
’Both of the new colours are low-key but intriguing, which is in keeping with Punkt,’ explains founder Petter Neby. ’The white option brings a certain aesthetic delicateness, which contrasts neatly with the phone’s rugged build quality and straightforward design lines, while "MP 01 Brown" is the low-key head-turner’
Limited-edition posters by award-winning illustrator Anna Kövecses – 250 of them – will be up for grabs during LDF
’"White" is a more feminine colour, and combined with the black UI and the grey keypad, it emphasises the robust deliciousness of the phone,’ says Neby
’Getting "Brown" right is really not for the weak-hearted…’ explains Neby, describing the new colours as ’not intrusive’
The two new colourways will be on display alongside the existing Punkt family of products when the Swiss manufacturer takes over Morrison’s shop on Kingsland Road
Taming technology through design, the ’MP 01’ sees a definite nod to German product design of the 1960s and 70s, while making the most of modern robotics
INFORMATION
The Punkt takeover at Jasper Morrison’s Shop will take place from 19–24 September. For more information, visit the Punkt website
The ’MP 01’ mobile is also stocked at the Wallpaper*STORE (opens in new tab)
ADDRESS
The Jasper Morrison Shop
24b Kingsland Rd
London, E2 8DA
-
Architecture Drawing Prize 2022 awarded to rich visualisation that challenges stereotypesThe Architecture Drawing Prize 2022 has been awarded to Samuel Wen and Michael Ren for their hybrid artwork, 'Fitzroy Food Institute'
-
First look at Rimowa’s new collaboration with cult skate brand Palace
Palace Rimowa sees the luggage brand’s signature aluminium cabin suitcase emblazoned with an airbrushed motif, alongside a custom skate deck and set of stickers
-
Cape Town: 8 things to do and see for the design-minded traveller
Cape Town is a capital of art, design, food and wellness; local resident Sean O’Toole on the best things to do and see, from a Bree Street meander to a Constantia wine route
-
‘R for Repair’ at London Design Festival displays broken objects, re-formed
In the second half of a two-part exhibition and as part of London Design Festival 2022, ‘R for Repair’ at the V&A displays broken objects, re-formed
-
‘Finding quality through the act of making’: Pearson Lloyd celebrates 25 years of design
Pearson Lloyd’s show ‘Change Making’ reflects on past designs from its archives, showcasing the influences on and evolution of the studio, from furniture design to the NHS
-
Tom Dixon marks his studio's 20 years with a show of design experiments
Mushroom, cork, steel coral and more: Tom Dixon showcases an overview of his design experiments as he celebrates his practice's 20 years
-
Porro unveils new London showroom at Coal Office
London Design Festival 2022: industrial architecture meets pure geometries in the new Porro showroom, taking over a space within Tom Dixon’s Coal Office to showcase the brand’s systems and furniture
-
Vitra unveils new London home in the Tramshed, Shoreditch
London Design Festival 2022: after a year-long renovation, Vitra opens the door to its new showroom in the heart of Shoreditch
-
Mudlarking beside the River Thames inspires The New Craftsmen’s makers
London Design Festival 2022: The New Craftsmen’s new collection, ‘Claylarks’, features work from a group of creatives inspired by a River Thames mudlarking expedition
-
One tree, ten designers: SCP presents The One Tree Project at London Design Festival
London Design Festival 2022: SCP enlisted ten British designers to create furniture and objects from a felled ash tree from founder Sheridan Coakley's Hampshire garden
-
London Design Medals 2022
London Design Medals 2022 are awarded to costume designer Sandy Powell, architect Indy Johar, researcher Joycelyn Longdon and photographer Sir Don McCullin
