The KDDI au Design project traces its origins to the movement around 2000 when the folding “clamshell” style of mobile phone was about to become the norm for phone design, people started to complain that all mobile phones looked the same and thirst for more creativity and advanced design began.

The project unveiled three concept phones: INFOBAR, rotary, and wearable. Since then, the au Design project has become a trailblazer, introducing one revolutionary prototype and product after another and having a tremendous impact on trends in mobile phone design. There aim is to continue bringing excitement and inspiration to people’s everyday lives through revolutionary phone designs that are infused with new concepts and new ideas.

During Tokyo Designers Week 2008, mecho visited the futuristic studio in Harajuku for an exhibition and testing of the new models. As a testament of their achievements, four of the project’s products - INFOBAR, talby, neon plus the MEDIA SKIN were also chosen for the permanent collection of New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).

We also could not resist to touch the round and curved body of PENCK and play around with the musical instruments that doubles as phones from the au Design project x Yamaha. Yes, we are in love! Unfortunately, all these products are only available in Japan. The future of mobile phone design is safe - watch this space for the next generation.

Check out the au Design project photo gallery below;

[Show as slideshow]

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