The Dreyfuss retro-futurist phone concept explores the iconic form of the classic telephone combined with modern materials, technologies, and forms. The concept also pays homage to Henry Dreyfuss (1904-1972), a legendary 20th Century American industrial designer, who worked extensively on improving the look, feel and function of products, ranging from consumer to commercial. Dreyfuss is seen as one of the pioneers of modern product design and Human Centered Design. The 1937 Bell 302 telephone, one of his most famous work, is an inspiration for this project.
Dreyfuss Retro-Futurist Phone Concept with Classic Bell 302 designed by Henry Dreyfuss
Dreyfuss retro-futurist concept replaces the classic dials and buttons, as used in recent times on intercoms, with touch screen interface that is designed with a customize-able UI (User Interface) reminiscent of the classic phone. The User powers the device by holding down the home/power button located in the notched area at the base of the touch screen.
The overall elegant form is derived from a wedge shaped profile, a feature commonly used in automotive design to imbue vehicles with an advanced sporty character. This feature, among others, gives the device an aesthetic function beyond it’s primary function.
CMF (Color, Materials, Finish) Exploration
As the classic telephone, the Dreyfuss retro-futurist concept has two main parts comprising the housing/stand and receiver/handset. The Housing/stand is designed with a minimalist modernist avant-garde theme. It is made from a CNC-milled extruded piece of aluminium and welded with a capped cylindrical piece of aluminium, which serves as housing for the electronics. The entire piece is anodized afterwards. The receiver/handset is made from injection molded plastic parts which are given an anodized finish to maintain the look and feel of the base housing/stand.
The Concept explores four variants of color finishes.
Anodized Silver Aluminium finish
The primary color explored is silver. This is to give the device an industrial, sleek, high-tech, and modern look and feel. Since silver is a precious metal, it often symbolizes riches and wealth.
Anodized satin gold finish
Gold is explored as it is associated with illumination, wealth, grandeur, and glamour.
Anodized black
The primary essence of the black is to connect the Dreyfuss retro-futurist phone concept with the classic Bell 302. Additionally, Black is associated with strength, elegance, and sophistication.
Anodized Moonlight gold
The moonlight gold gives a calm and soft visual characteristics, that still retain gold’s glamorous look and feel.
SKETCHES
Extensive sketches, ranging from ideation to explanatory, is made to define form and optimize the interaction between form and function.
Dreyfuss retro-futurist concept
User picks receiver to accept calls and drops it to end or reject calls. This is to ensure the user interaction of classic phones is maintained.
Receiver/handset design
The receiver is designed to wirelessly connect with phone via Bluetooth to enhance user freedom of mobility during usage. The receiver’s battery is charged via induction charging pads placed on it’s base. To maintain a clean design, the receiver has a dual receiver and microphone. The top or bottom orientation of the receiver and microphone is controlled by an accelerometer.
Chord docking or storage solution
Power transmission details
Power is sourced from the mains through the AC power chord attached to the phone. The power is then transmitted through thin wires placed in the aluminium body, to the induction charging pads on the cradle. The induction charging pads charge the receiver when it is dropped on the cradle.
