Gutiérrez and Lovegrove to redesign Finland’s Twig mobile

Designers Fernando Gutiérrez and Ross Lovegrove have joined forces to redesign Finland’s Twig mobile phone range, which incorporates a navigation system originally developed for military use.

Gutiérrez (pictured) has been working on the naming, identity and branding of the next new Twig phone for Finnish phone company Benefon, while Lovegrove is redesigning the look of the original handsets with a more contemporary look. The design work is due to be completed by November for a launch in January.

While Gutiérrez has been working with the company since the original Twig launch, Lovegrove was appointed to design three phones by brand owner Benefon in May with the option to design a further three at a later date. The working arrangement gives Benefon an initial two-year exclusivity arrangement for Lovegrove’s design services, followed by a further two if the second series of designs goes ahead.

The handsets use sophisticated navigation technology offering a range of extra functionality. For instance, it can keep track of children via a specially designed watch, worn on the wrist. Lovegrove is the former chief design officer of watchmaker Tag Heuer.

Gutiérrez is set to move into new premises in London’s Hampstead this month, having just announced his departure from Pentagram, where he has been a partner since 2000 (DW 24 August).