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Morph - Nokia's Nano phone concept.

Intriguing product-centred nanotech powered concept device called Morph from Nokia  / Cambridge Nanoscience Centre currently featured in The Museum of Modern Art “Design and The Elastic Mind” exhibition in NYC. The whole concept reminds me of what the boys and girls at IDEO might have concocted. Nice.

Flexibility is at the heart of the new device using materials and components that are stretchable, transparent and very strong. (via)

I like the way the device interacts with it's environment and a wearable, stretchable, fold-up-able, self-cleaning 'phone' is of course the stuff of dreams.

Check out the video here - interesting (if slightly confusing?) storytelling... and naturally I'd be very keen to explore what services the device might enable. Also, what's the service equivalent of geeked out product design meets nanotech concepting?

I wonder, is it ever possible to explore future service / experiences and present them in such a way without an engaging physical manifestation?

(note to self - next post will not feature Nokia)

David's myPhone and Mass Customisation

Lots of noise all around on Apple's iPhone and to be fair, until I get my hands on one and experience it in the flesh and through a UK service provider; I can only wait in anticipation.

David Armano's post 'Introducing the myPhone' focused on what improvements he would make, like incorporating a slide-out Querty keyboard and a Blackberry-esque trackball.

My comment on his post was to focus on the Mass Customisation angle that I believed this spoke to. (not sure of blog etiquette  so here is  my comment in full:

Aha! Your myPhone, David could well be slightly different from my myPhone which I'm sure would be different again from my sister's myPhone.

What I'm excited about is Mass Customisation and that to me, is what 'myPhone' really talks to and, I believe, could be the next innovation around devices.

We've done it for cars, for houses, for Suits, for most PCs for ages; so why not cell phones?

Want a higher res camera? No problem. Trade the radio for a few more pre-loaded games? OK. A larger memory, certainly if you're willing to pay (I am). Want me to pre-load all your settings? Sure. Non-slip rubbery finish? Why not. Slide out 'real' keyboard like David Armano? You bet.

So yes, flippery apart, mass customised  'myPhones' would be a great - no more 'almost the perfect phone'.

Can't wait ;-)

Which seemed to get a thumbs up.

Now if we build a little further on this and consider the service / experience angle by looking at the key differences between a service and a product.

For a Product, Mass Customisation is a major undertaking requiring a new product strategy, tooling, and marketing. For success, especially financial you might be looking at starting from the ground up (like Mymeusli) or not making any money at all. I think the auto industry is an example of having provided a good degree of Mass Customisation from the early days. Lego is showing success with Lego Factory.

For a Service, the very fact that our experiences of the service are all individual and different, that our needs, inputs and outputs are all different, points to services having Mass Customisation at their very heart. It's absolutely not 'cookie cutter' or production line like a product. In fact the very best services pride themselves on being able to match individual needs. If you think about Air travel (a classic Service) each and every aspect is customisable, from routes,  flight duration, booking, checkin, take off, cost, class, seat, meals etc. etc. again within certain limits (like the auto makers) and of course our individual experience (what we take away) will differ.

But what do you think?

Is product going in the direction of service and experience?

Photo of the week no.3 (Unabashed Gearhead Gnarlyness*)

So LeTour officially starts tomorrow ('Le Grand Depart) with the Prologue in London. We're hoping to catch some of it live as this is the first time Le Tour has ever been to London, let alone started here. I managed a sneaky peek at today's presentation of the teams, and some of the machinery...

There is something supremely beautiful and sexy (even) about Astana's BMC pro machine SLC01 don't you agree ;-)

The frame's a lot cleaner than previous 2004 machine. Especially the seat cluster (that 4-way joint just under the saddle). I like the deeper rim on the rear wheel. reminds me of wider rear rubber on motorcycles.

There's a cute little decal 'Now it's your turn' under the bottom bracket (where the pedals are).

In addition, it has to be the stunning colour scheme (Bianchi influence?) and well groovy graphics. The white saddle and bar tape, all black spokes, bars and naked carbon. The yellow highlights. Yum Yum.

Clearly the visual treatment is now as important as it is in Formula 1.

*'Unabashed Gearhead Gnarlyness' courtesy Diego Rodriguez' metacool

Black and shiny...

Many thanks to Graeme for this one... a very interesting approach to the clock by product designers Art.Lebedev studio in Moscow.

The Verbarious electronic clock tells the time in words, in different formats; forty-five minutes past four, or fifteen minutes to five, or four forty-five, or a quarter to five. and all in five different languages. Aesthetically it's very much on the Apple tip - unfussed clean lines, radius corners and a mix of matt and gloss surfaces. With a design language reminiscent of the recent Olivetti MY_WAY printer by IDEO. The clock is a snip at around €135 but not available until the end of this year 'sigh' (but maybe in time for Christmas!).

As seems to be fashionable these days, they have an online store where you can buy loads of fab goodies.

They are also very accomplished graphic and interaction designers. And that's the point. These days it really pays to be multi-disciplinary, you can clearly see the benefit to the clock project of having not just quality product designers but also gifted interaction designers and graphics / tyographic designers on the team. Keep a look out for Art.Lebedev Studio. Is there no end to their talents?