Is this the greatest year for Nokia design ever?

Published by Joel Willans on December 14, 2012

You only have to look at the Nokia Lumia and Asha ranges of devices to see evidence of Nokia fine tradition in stunning industrial design. It’s no surprise then that over the years Nokia’s cool kit has scooped a ton of design awards. One of the most prestigious is that given by the International Forum Design, based in Hanover, Germany.

For sixty years this organization has assembled a jury of renowned designers from across the globe. These experts look at thousands of products, every year, to decide which deserve to be recognized for outstanding achievements in design. Nokia has often gained success, but this year it has won a staggering seven awards.

Here’s a quick look at the products the judges gave a very big thumbs up.

The Nokia Lumia 800

It may have been launched nearly a year ago, but the judges still thought it represented a great example of smartphone design. With its sleek form and curved 3.7″ AMOLED screen we have to agree.

The Nokia Lumia 920

The world’s most innovative phone really needs no introduction. This is one award of many that the Lumia 920 has picked up this year, the consensus clearly being the Lumia 920 is a top contender for the smartphone of 2013.

The Nokia Wireless Charging Plate

Thanks to the tech wizards at Nokia Gear, Wireless charging has been launched with a bang this year and one of the most stylish examples of that is the DT 900. The perfect companion to your Lumia 920, it clearly impressed the judges too.

The Nokia Wireless Charging Stand

Not to be outdone by its more laid back sibling, the DT 910 also picked up an iF award. Thanks to innovative tech, the DT-910 gives you both hassle free power, and uses NFC to open a selected app. Obviously a combo that appealed to the judges as much as it does us. 

The Nokia Bluetooth Headset BH-118

Bluetooth headsets may have been around for a while, but they’ve changed beyond recognition since the early days. The Nokia BH-118 combines crystal clear sound with a subtle, yet colourful style. If you’re looking for handsfree chat this could be your lucky day. 

The JBL PlayUp for Nokia

Stylish, practical go-anywhere design and crystal clear sound combined with NFC and Bluetooth for an amazing wireless music experience. Yes, we’re talking about the JBL PlayUp. We’re not surprised it rocked the judges’ world. 

The JBL PowerUP for Nokia

Last, but by no means least, yet another awesome Nokia accessory. Combining charging and tunes, the JBL PowerUP doesn’t just look great and sound great, it’s a great way to energize your phone, too. All in all, the perfect musical package.

These magnificent seven products certainly dazzled the judges at iF, but is that enough to declare this year the greatest for Nokia design ever? Let us know your opinion in the comments below.

Comments

  • http://twitter.com/capricotwi04 Caprico

    I share that opinion. Nokia has some of the best Design out there. Every piece, like Nokia N9, Nokia 360 speakers, USB mobile charger, covers (things I own) are beautiful – and remain beautiful/interesting after months of use!
    Even the Nokia icons (MeeGo, Symbian Belle) are a masterpiece of design – they’re not boring circles or squares, but the right thing in between. Furthermore I like the design idea that Nokia 360 speaker looks like a N9 icon from the top.

    Talking about Nokia N9: You totally forgot that phone in your list – it actually has been the most awarded and appraised recent Nokia smartphone in design. Furthermore it is the only Nokia phone where hardware & software design correlate with each other in a probably never seen way. Without it, Lumia phones wouldn’t look the way they look today.

    • http://www.facebook.com/joel.willans Joel Willans

      Totally hear what you’re saying Caprico. Personally, I think this is a definite contender for greatest year so far. As for the N9, a smartphone I have great affection for, the reason it’s not included is because this is a list of the products given the iF award for pure excellence this year. The N9, I think, is probably too old for consideration.

      • http://twitter.com/capricotwi04 Caprico

        Thank you for your answer. I didn’t consider that and you must be right. I got confused seeing the Lumia 800 in it which was also launched in 2011 but still got included by international forum awards.

        Lumia 920 got released a few days ago in my country. I hope to also see soon some of the JBL speakers in stores, which look fantastic. Nokia always felt and still feels like good quality – holding a L920 in your hands proves that. In my opinion it’s weight is no disadvantage – I need it to know I’m not carrying around some cheap plastic stuff… :-)

        • ron1509

          If you look at conditions to apply for awards, the Nokia N9 fulfills them (introduced on the market less than 3 years ago).

    • http://twitter.com/tLindegaardN Tommy Lindegaard

      I think the N9 was rewarded in 2011, this is for 2012… But yes, the N9 set the industry standard for beautiful design!

      • http://www.facebook.com/nionios.speed Nionios Speed

        N9 was first, it’s just that Elop wanted to push the Lumia line

        • http://twitter.com/tLindegaardN Tommy Lindegaard

          yes, that is exactly what I said. 2011 is before 2012 in case you didn’t knew :P…

  • jlangfel

    Beautiful and sexy design!

  • http://twitter.com/DeanMWaters Dean M Waters

    The 920 is a great phone, wireless charging is an amazing feature

  • http://twitter.com/haroldlgardner Harold Gardner

    The design looks great. I hope that the ecosystem will follow to break the current duopoly.

    • http://www.facebook.com/MarkAReynolds Mark Reynolds

      You and me both, Harold. I’m really keen on the Windows Phone, and reasonably confident that the latest releases based on Windows Phone 8 will see the platform take off as a clear contender. Industry analysts do seem to believe that iOS will start to decline (in some ways it’s already started), and that Windows Phone will increase in market share. The question is, by how much, and whether it will be enough to break the current duopoly. I see far too much fragmentation in the Android ecosystem, far too much proprietary in the iOS, and not enough integration from either with other aspects of a total computing platform that the Microsoft approach takes. I really hope it becomes a winner!

      • http://www.facebook.com/nionios.speed Nionios Speed

        iOS will eventually fall, hopefully.. Just take a look at AAPL current status, it’s like -2% more

  • Anton

    nice

  • http://www.image-minded.com/ Neil Silverthorn

    Although I don’t own any of the most recent Nokia products, they sure do catch my eye these days. People who do seem to like them a lot. Keep up the great work pushing the envelope and keeping the spirit of competition alive.

  • Alexandre Biondo

    Awesome design!

  • http://twitter.com/gizmo4me2 gizmo4me2

    Wireless charging is a most for any that have a cell phone.

    • http://www.facebook.com/MarkAReynolds Mark Reynolds

      Absolutely ! If this was universal and compatible, I can imagine cafes and fast food restaurants getting an edge over their competition by implementing charging into the tables!

  • redtidal

    I would love (really love) to see Nokia make something thinner and lighter. Maybe not even thinner, as Lumia 920 feels good in the hand. But definitely LIGHTER. PLEASE!

    • http://www.facebook.com/MarkAReynolds Mark Reynolds

      I agree that the weight (and I would continue to say the feel) of the Nokia Lumia 920 is the one key thing that makes me undecided between the Nokia Lumia 920 and the HTC 8X. The Lumia 920 has so many aspects which make it more desirable than the HTC 8X – but unfortunately I’d have to say that I feel the opposite when it comes to the weight and feel of these 2 devices. Decisions, decisions…!

      • http://www.facebook.com/joel.willans Joel Willans

        Personally, I like the feel of the Lumia 920, Mark. It feels sturdy, something that won’t shatter if you drop it. However, totally understand why you might be wavering between the 920 and the 8X, they’re both great phones. If you want help making your mind up you should email paul@nokiaconnects.com He should be able to sort you out with a two week trial of the 920.

  • Pauli

    Loudspeakers look cool!

  • Jeri Baker

    Always innovative.

  • steelicon

    Nokia 808 PureView “Hyperion” RM-807

  • http://twitter.com/georgejlloyd George J Lloyd

    Looking great

  • http://www.facebook.com/MarkAReynolds Mark Reynolds

    The Nokia Lumia 920 is truly the most amazing Windows Phone handset on the market at the moment, with its very nice extra touch features such as camera stability and wireless charging, and a larger screen than its predecessor Lumia 900. I’m so glad that Nokia brought this model to Australia with full 4G capability, compared to the disappointment (at least for Australians) with the Lumia 900, which was released in the US with 4G capability, but released in Australia restricted to HSPA+.

  • Nokiafanboy

    Nice phone on the margin but the design differentiation is reducing considerably. See all these phones side by side in a store and it is now really hard to tell them apart.
    This however is about phones that are “smart”. Design is a consideration once you have parity on the ecosystem. WP ecosystem is really so poor still today (saying you have 49 of top 50 is academic for most as people do not use the same 50-what of top 500 are available on WP is probably more relevant) that it takes this out of the consideration set for most.
    Ok it may improve over time but despite massive MSFT$ to get apps on board it is still poor. For most developers, it makes no sense. As a result, for most consumers it makes no sense either. The numbers confirm it and I just do not see how Nokia can turn this around. And that is before the feature phone discussion. Nokia has never been good at acting fast on hard data just the vagueness of its spiritual belief in sisu.

    • Budjik

      In a way I agree with you, that not all apps are here for now, but on the other hand, I use Windows Phone for two years (and I just got L920). I don’t have problem with the apps. Yeah, sure there are some cool games on my iPad/iPhone I can’t play on my Lumia, but I don’t really miss them. I can easily do whatever I do every day (internet/mail/social sites/connect with people etc.) much much better than on the other devices (I coordinate app developement for our company so for that, I need to have and know all the systems well) I would always preffer Windows Phone over all other platforms and I have spent a lot of time (and money for apps) on all of them.

  • http://twitter.com/artofimagery Ben Heys

    Even though I’m an android man I must admit these are some damn fine looking devices!

  • http://twitter.com/Benners76 Benners76

    The L920 is quite simply fantastic. If you’re at all on the fence between 8x and 920 the camera and Nokia (differentiators -CityLens, Drive, Music) should make it easy. Want beautiful, blur-free photos even in low light… Better get the 920. Want to share those amazing pics wirelessly from your phone to any Internet-connected device… Use the Photobeamer app(only available for Lumia). Streaming music from a library of 19 million songs w/o ads or need for login… Nokia Music on the 920. How about industry-leading turn-by-turn navigation (that is also available in off-line mode) via Nokia Drive… 920 wins again. There’s also the enormous 32GB of on board memory.
    Now and again a new product is just a hit and the 920 is that product right now.

  • donfre

    Just got the Samsung, but think I would prefer the 920 now :( Great phones

  • http://www.facebook.com/marcelot68 Marcelo Tavares

    I want it all

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1267660468 Davlet Mametov

    design is really great. but I was disappointed with your new cheap models, I think you shouldn’t give name lumia to every WP device. Real Lumia devices are 800 900 820 920 on my opinion. Uniqueness is lost.

  • PhlyBoy OhSoMazinG

    Apple and othes should learn from Nokia

  • http://www.facebook.com/kalle.liikanen.18 Kalle Liikanen

    I like this new design of Nokia, since Lumia 800.

    I have used Lumia 920 for three weeks and I have to say I am impressed. When I bought it, I thought it’ll be good – but no, it is really amazing phone and not to mention it’s camera which is something unbelievable whit it’s Carl Zeiss optics and Pureview technology. Earlier I had Lumia 800 and 920 is really taking Windows Phones into a very next level. The new Windows Phone 8 is great. I am still waiting for wireless charging plate I ordered.

    If you want a unique design, very fast internet browsing and the best camera, I definitely recommend Nokia Lumia 920 for you.

  • noddy

    I’ve got iPhone, HTC,Lumia800 & 920, I’ve pretty much blown off my iPhone but at times I really wish I hasn’t, constantly back & forward between android & windows for different tasks & between them they still don’t give an overall package in comparison, the 920 is my fave though just because its sturdy, has brilliant display and never has niggly hiccups, just needs to be a little smarter in how it handles social networking sites,hyperlinks etc. Def need a big push on app developments and it will be a real winner

  • jussi alanenpää

    kyllä Nokialta ei huonoa laitetta tule esim;920 lumia on varmasti mailman paras puhelin ,,mulla käytössä edelleen nokian 6250 puhelin ja se toimii eikä nikottele,mielestäni sieltä ei tule mitään roskaa,,.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=581118987 Matti Mäntynen

    The little PlayUp’s look great, but my favourite is still the Wireless Charging Stand… My Red Lumia 920 is feeling soooo lonely without it’s own Stand… Poor little fella…

  • http://twitter.com/amielmoyes amiel moyes

    nokia deserves this…….no one can beat nokia………go lumia..i like the lumia 920 ..

  • http://www.facebook.com/jianxing.quek Jian Xing Quek

    wireless charging car mount would be be better

  • 123321

    yes it is enough. ;)
    …and there is more to come, so i hope

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000038360455 Uwe Hermsdorf

    congratulaition Nokia. You’ve done a graet job in desingning mobile phones for years. keep goining. regards uwe

  • http://www.facebook.com/hisham.ahmed.9619 Hisham Ahmed

    I never knew the BH-118 even existed!

  • Jouko Häyrynen

    Let´s not compare apples and oranges. Old designs were great at a time. New era, new consumers, new opinions. Lumia 800 is/was a good design – now we want something new from Nokia! … yet, I still consider N2110 design to be the breakthrough of form-and-function of cellphones.

  • Boogieman

    the excellent = lumia 920 hardware and design and innovative thinking!! Keep it up like this and youbwill be back in the throne in no time ;)

    the less good = the software and wp8 needs some polishing.

  • Bas

    Seriously, I’m so incredibly happy with my 920, I can’t stop playing with it. It is such a beautiful and innovative device that really sets you apart from the masses. Love it!

  • http://www.facebook.com/michelle.pereira.771 Michèlle Pereira

    Put the ‘new’ Nokia phones side by side with the samsungs and iphones and they all look the same. How is that great design? In my world that is BORING, very boring design. I remember the good days when Nokia had phones for all tastes. Pages and pages of choices for us. Now, it’s like bigger, medium, smaller. WOW!! Some seriously bold design choices!

  • http://www.facebook.com/abner.nightingale Abner Zart Nightingale

    i love my lumia 800 so much